KAT HLEEN MAVOURNEEN
.
CHAPT ER I
.
The air is sharp a nd bitte rly
cold ; a nd as Kathlee n cli mbs the hill sh e d raws
h er clo a k m ore closely ro u n d her an d tighten s the
fur at her throat
S u rely, they w ill n o t t u rn the m o ut o n s u ch a
”
“
day as this sh e m u r m u rs a d ay u n u s u all y severe
even here i n the w ilds o f Do n egal Wher e i s
L io n el I wo n der ? Wh y does he n ot co me t o tel l
”
m e w hat has bee n decid ed ?
a n d sh e t u r n s
a nd
a n xio u sly sca n s the horizo n
The prospect o n e v ery sid e is bleak a n d w ild
I n lan d the r ugged m o u n tai n s li ft up their fan tastic
peaks agai n st th e m o rn i n g m i sts A way to ward s the
IT
is
i
m d W i n ter
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3
KAT HLE E N M AVOURNEE N
4
.
ocea n th e bare headlan ds proj ect fa r o u t dark w ith
bogs a n d m arsh fro m w hich a t i n tervals rise h uge
The cal m waters o f
m asses o f bleached rock
L o ugh S wil ly are lo w a n d alo n g the sides o f th e
w i n di n g bay the sa n ds lie bare a n d yello w i n the
dreary light o f this d ull wi n ter s day For m i les
n o t a creat u re 1 s V 1 s1 b l e a n d the thi n li n es o f s m oke
r isi n g here a n d there agai n st th e sky alo n e i n di
cate th es mall cabi n s i n w hich i n the m idst o f thi s
desolate co u n try h u ma n bei n gs co n trive to live
“
H e has forgotte n his pro mi se or his n e ws is
”
“
—
bad sighs the girl
Poor Pat poor M ary
”
God gra n t y o u co u rage a n d patien ce a n d sh e h u r
ri es o n u
the
hill
p
Kathlee n B u rke is eightee n lithe a n d gracefu l as
a yo u n g fa wn a n d as she walks briskly ove r th e
r u gged hill side the e xercise a n d sharp wi n d bri n g
a brillia n t color to her u s u ally p ale cheeks w hic h
e n h an ces the bea uty o f her deep bl u e Irish eyes a n d
d e l icately chiselled feat ures
B ut as the gi rl ste p s
a l o n g there is n o o n e n ear to n o tice h o w she is
looki ng a n d her o wn m i n d is too b usy w ith other
a n d m ore serio u s tho u ghts to allo w her ti m e to
reflect u po n what her appeara n ce m ay be It is
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KATHLEEN M AVOURNEEN
5
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i n deed a s ubject th at e v er i n terests her m u ch
a n d to d a
m
h
it
is
a
atter
abo
t
hich
is
u
b
a
e
s
o
s
w
y
l u tely i n d i ffere n t
A t th e top o f the hill Kathleen pa uses agai n an d
as sh e looks aro u n d sh e starts her color fades a n d a
sad the n a n i n dig n a n t ex p ress 1 o n flashes a cross her
face an d her dar k eyes are filled w ith a n a n gry
light
T
What are th e p olice co m i n g h ere fo r this m or n
”
“
i ng ?
It w ill n ot req u ire a m ou n ted
sh e cries
g u ard to drive poor Pat fro m h is cabi n ; a n d yet
s u rely they are ridi n g this way I hea r the cl atter
”
o f their horses fe et
B u t presen tly the so u n d o f m erry v oices an d gay
la ughter was born e to wards her o n the breeze a n d
as th e riders approached sh e saw that they were n ot
police me n as s h e h ad s u pposed b u t a cavalcade of
l adies a n d g en tle m en follo wed by several d ogs
n ot,
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a sigh o f relie f ; an d sh e tu rn ed
aside an xio u s to escape n otice i f sh e co u l d
B u t o n th e barren hill side co n ceal m e n t Was
i mpossible an d as the eyes o f o n e o f the ri d ers fell
upo n the sli m fig u re i n th e lo n g cri m so n cloak a n d
sh e
m u r mu red w ith
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KAT HLEEN M AVOURNEEN
6
.
s mall ro u n d hat he p u lled u p h is horse a n d sp rang
q uickly to the gro u n d
”
“
Kathlee n he cried graspi n g her war mly by
the h a n d an d looki n g i n q u iri n gly i n to the dar k
eyes that w ere ra i s ed i n eager expectatio n to his
face
VVhy are y o u u p here alo n e
Wh y ? H ave y o u forgotten yo u r p ro m ise ?
“
B u t did y o u n o t recei v e my
Certai n ly n ot
”
letter ?
N o L io n el a n d I ca me here to me et y ou h op i n g
tha t y ou w o uld have good n e ws for m e Tell
—
m e has yo u r father rele n ted ? M ay Pat a n d his
lit tle o n es re m ai n i n their ho m e ?
“
My father w ill n ot relen t Pat O Co n n o r is
lazy a n d idle he says an d to m orro w aftern o o n go
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h e m u st
~
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”
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K athlee n s eyes filled
’
q
u
ivered
with
tears
h er li p s
an d
.
help h i m a n d his childre n Where gl an e
“
?
n
i g over the dreary m oor la n d
are they to go
To the U n io n at D u n fa n agh y That is the
”
best ho m e for creatu res like the m
Kathleen s color ro se a n d sh e started a way fro m
h is si d e
“
”
G od
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KATHLEEN M AVOURNEEN
7
.
”
“
L io n el Dean yo u r w ords are cr uel she cried
B u t perhaps y o u are n ot a ware that fo r years d ay
a n d n ight late a n d earl y Pat O Co n n o r w orked o n
his s mall holdi n g which l n the begi n n i n g was
m erely a piece o f bog ? That h e b u ilt t h e little
co ttage i n which he has lived happily for the last
That then the ren t wa s raised a n d as
fo u r years
Pat co u l d n ot pay i t h e an d his childre n were
e v icted
L io n el sh r ugged h is sho u lders
“
They all tel l the sa m e tale I wo u l d n ot b e
”
lieve the m i f I we re y o u
”
“
I belie v e w hat I k n o w to be tru e
sa id
Kathlee n cold ly a n d I ass u re y o u M r Dean th i s
story is correct i n every partic u lar Father L aven s
offered to pay a year s re n t an d perso n ally g u ara n
teed the fu t u re pay m e n t b u t the o ffer was ro ughly
re fused Poor Pat i n the d ead o f the n ight took
possessio n o f his hou se fro m w hich he declared he
had been illegally evicted I t was p ulled do wn over
his ears an d he was sen t to jail O n his release
he b u ilt a ki n d o f wooden h u t an d gatheri ng to
gether the few pieces o f fu rn it u re that the n eigh b
had kept for h i m he settled do wn peacefully i n his
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KATHLEEN M AVOURN E E N
8
.
agai n the age n t a n d his men were
u po n h i m
They p u lled do wn his cabi n thre w the
fu rn i tu re i n to the lo u gh a n d sen t h i m o n ce m ore to
priso n A fortn ight ago he ret u rn ed b u ilt hi m sel f
J ca n call it by n o other n a me a n d h as
a k en n el
”
take n re fuge there
“
It i s a sad story Bu t w h y is th e man s o per
ti n aci o u s
Wh y can not h e go else where
—
Why ? Ca n an y one e xplai n th e l o v e the i n
fatu ati on that bi n d s a n I rish p eas an t to h is ho m e ?
Y o u I a m s u re co u l d n e v er u ndersta n d it fo r y o u
are a stra n ger B ut I wh o h a v e d welt a mo n gst
these hills all my li fe I wh o k n o w what a sorro w
it wou ld be to m e to leave thi s w il d, l o n ely co u n try
T he love
ca n sy m pathize w ith h i m fro m my hea rt
o f ho me is stro n g a n d to m y m i n d the feeli n g is
v ery beau ti ful I can n ot b elie v e that y o u d o n ot
”
thi n k so
”
“
I do I co n sider it m ost to u chi n g he sai d
looki n g ad miri n gly at her glo w i n g face
B ut
what ca n be do n e
Whe n idle fello ws like this
”
“
H e is n o t idle i n terr upted Kathlee n I n d ig
n a n tl
he
n he had w ork to do he did it w ell
W
y
O h what a m ockery it i s to hear y ou an d yo u r
ho me
n ew
.
B ut
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KA THLEEN M AVOURNEEN
9
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ich lan dlords an d their so n s tal k of the idle
Y o u wh o pass yo u r days
n ess o f these peasa n ts
Spe n di n g i n
h u n ti n D or shooti n g or ga m bli n g
l u x u rio u s livi n g i n yo u r m an sion s here or i n L o n
d on the re n ts extracted fro m a starvi n g people
Taki n g n o i n terest i n their lives feeli n g n o respo n si
b i l ity n ever le n di n g a hel p i n g han d to the m i n their
m isery ; a n d then whe n the m on ey falls s h ort casti n g
the m forth to die u pon the roadside calli n g the m
lazy a n d idle u n wo rthy o f an y better fate B ut
believe m e s u ch co n d u ct m ust bri n g do wn u pon y o u
the ven gean ce o f God Soo n er or later H e w ill
”
p u n ish y ou fo r this cr u el n eglect o f yo u r d u ty
L io n el had fl ushed hotly d u ri n g this speech H e
felt a n gry w ith the girl fo r her bl u n t speaki n g
A n d yet i n his heart he co u ld n ot b u t ack n o wledge
that a great deal o f what sh e said wa s tr u e
T we n ty y ears before M r Nor m a n Dean Lion el s
father had p u rchased the large property exte n di n g
for m a n y m iles o v er o n e o f the w ildest parts o f
Don egal A t that ti me the te n an ts had each a
s mall far m with a patch of lan d attached o n which
they grazed their few sheep an d co ws a n d they had
co n trived by their patie n t i n d ustry t o reclai m por
fello ws ,
r
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KATHLEEN
10
M A VOU RNEEN
.
the barren m ou n tai n M uch of this the
n ew la n d lord took a way fro m t he m an d i n stead o f
givi ng the m co mpen sation dou bled a n d i n m an y
i n stan ces trebled the ren t B u t o f this L io n el
k n e w little A s a lad c o m i n g ho m e fro m Eton he
had enjoyed a m o n th or si x weeks i n his father s
bea uti fu l ho u se n ear L ou g h S wi l ly ; had delig h ted
i n the fishi n g a n d shooti n g a n d liked the peasa n try
They were al ways good n at u red treat
fairly well
”
“
yo u n g m aster w ith m u ch respect H is
i ng the
father had do n e a good thi n g people sai d i n
b u y i ng this Irish pro p erty a n d was getti n g high
i n terest fo r his m o n ev Th at was pleasan t heari n g ;
a n d so lo n g as L io n el s allo wa n ce wa s lar e a n d his
g
father i n good h u mor the yo u n g m an tro u bled his
h ead little abo u t whe n ce the m o n ey cam e or h ow it
B u t s u dden ly there ca m e a cha n ge
w as obtai n ed
—
l
The peop e co uld n ot p ay thei r ren t e v iction s fo l
lo wed Cottages were razed to the gro u n d ; an d
h eedless o f what beca m e o f his star v i n g te n a n ts
M r Dean dro ve them o ff his la n d an d let tho usan ds
o f acres o f m o u n tai n to a Scotc h farm er w h o paid
h i m a higher perce n tage than the hard w orki n g
peasan t had e v e r b een able t o do S o the la n dl o rd
ti on s
of
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KATHLEEN M AVOURNEEN
11
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did n ot su ffer a n d e v ictio n s we n t on apace The n
L io nel ret u rn ed fro m O x ford ; b ut absorbed i n
his o wn a mu se me nts he took b u t s m all i n terest i n
his father s affairs an d scarcely n oticed the cha n ges
that had been m ade i n the estate B u t he was n ot
allo wed to re m ai n lon g i n this state o f i n di ffere n ce
A n d to h is s u rprise h e soo n fo u n d hi m sel f m aki n g
i n quiries abou t the co n ditio n o f the people an d
eve n re mon strati n g w ith his father fo r his harsh n ess
i n t u r n i n g Pat O Co n n o r fro m his far m
I n this
ho we ver he was n ot follo wi n g the pro mp ti n gs o f
h i s o wn heart b ut m erely obeyi n g the i n str u ctio n s
B u rk e a n d her daughter wh o w ere his
o f M rs
best an d I may al most say his o n ly frien ds i n
Don egal
A s a child little Kathl e en had been th e big
school boy s fa vorite co mpan ion an d she had looked
h
u
to
u n w ith m u c h a ffectio n a n d respect
H
is
p
holidays h ad b een the brightest an d happiest ti me
A n d w he n h e ca me back fro m the
o f her li fe
u n i v ersity a n n o u n ci n g his i n te n tio n o f spe n di n g a
large porti o n o f his ti me i n Don egal , she was tr u ly
glad an d i n the si mplicity o f h er h eart t ook n o
trou ble t o con ce al h er pl easure
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KATHLEEN M AVOURNEEN
12
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’
T he whol e of Kathleen s y o un g li fe had b e e n
spen t i n Don egal a n d sh e k n ew n othi n g o f the fair
She lo v ed her ho m e ; the gri m
w orld beyo n d
bare mo u n tai n s a n d the dark deep waters o f L o u g h
S wi l ly
B u t abo v e a ll sh e lo v ed the people a n d
lo n ged to see them happy M r Dean was a cr u el
la n dlord wh o like a m oder n Shylock w o u ld have
his po u n d of flesh B u t L ion el was ki n d hearted ,
chivalro u s a n d ho n orable
Throu gh h i m sh e
hoped to see j u stice do n e A n d fu ll o f sy m pathy
fo r the s u fferi n gs she s aw aro u n d her sh e u rged
h i m to do so m ethi n g to i mprove the co n ditio n o f
the u n happy te n a n ts B u t he was hard to move
H e liked to liste n to the yo u n g gi rl s pl eadi ng to
w atch the color d eepe n i n her cheek to see he r
dark eyes ki n dle with i n dig n atio n as sh e told the
story o f a n e v ictio n or the poverty o f so m e u n fo r
B u t he co n sidered s u ch a sho w o f
t u n ate fa m ily
feeli n g excessi v e p u tti n g it do wn to a ten der n ess
o f heart
which tho u gh w orthy o f ad m iration i n
o n e so yo u n g w as n e v ertheless q u ixotic a n d n o t
The la n d was his
w orthy o f m u ch atte n tio n
father s
H e had i n v ested his m o n ey i n it an d
had a right to ge t as high a rate of i n terest as he
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I
KATHLEEN MA VOURNEEN
13
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co uld I f th e ten an ts c o u ld n ot pay th e te n a n ts
m ust go
They were idle lazy a n d u n profitable
he was told th e n wh y sho u ld they e n c u mber the
earth
Far better co v er the hill sides w ith Scotch
sheep tha n wit h u seless creat u res like these L io n el
h o we v er was n ot hard hearted o n ly careless a n d
i n di ffere n t an d whe n K athlee n had pressed h i m to
a sk his father to allo w Pat O Con n o r to re mai n i n
his wretched ho v el he co n se n ted to do so at o n c e
B u t M r Dea n was deter mi n ed
Pat m u st go
A n d he soo n m ade his s on believe that it was o n ly
right he sho u ld B ut as Kat h leen spoke telli n g
fi rst the t ru e s tory o f the ma n s li fe a n d the n fu ll
had de n o u n ced h i m a n d his father
o f i n dig n atio n
fo r n eglect o f their d uty a feeli n g o f sha m e took
possessi on o f h i m a n d he t u rned a way B ut he
co uld do n othi n g he re fl ected bitterly M r Dea n
a n d his age n t m a n aged the estate bet wee n the m
H e wa s n o t to bla me It was abs u rd to speak so
to h i m The n s u dden ly he f lt a sharp t wi n ge o f
re morse as he re me mbered h o w u tterly careless he
had bee n a n d h o w little atte n tio n he had g i ve n to
the real co n ditio n o f these poor te n a n ts
Kathlee n wh o k n e w his character well g uessed
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KAT HLEEN MAVOU RNEEN
14
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p assi ng i n his m i nd an d regretti n g that
sh e had spoke n s o harshly appro ached h i m a n d laid
her ha n d u pon his a rm
”
“
L ion el sh e said an d her v oice was v ery lo w
“
a n d s weet
I a m sorry i f I hav e a n n oyed y o u
B u t belie v e me o u r people are n o t what they are
represe n ted Y ou are i n a di ffic u lt positio n I k n o w
Yo u r fath e r wou ld resen t an y i n terfere n ce at first
b u t co u ld y o u n o t q u ietly grad u ally fi n d o ut the
tr uth abo ut these u n happy creat u res an d u se you r
i n fl ue n ce i n so ften i n g h im a little to wards the m
It wo uld be a n oble wo r k an d God wou l d bless
”
f
u
o
r it
o
y
”
—
u
f
l
Y o speak oolish y l ike a child cried L io n el
“
hotly
It is n ot my b u si n ess I will n ot i n ter
”
fere
Y ou see the s u ccess I had to day
Y es ; b u t that was beca u se y o u did n ot care ;
u did n ot fe el
o
u
u
belie
v
ed
hat
ere
told
o
o
w
w
; y
y
y
u d i d n o t k n o w the tr u th
o
f
u
o
I
u
did
o
y
y
y
—
u
w o ld ha v e m ore po w er a n d
I a m disappoi n ted
”
—
n
L io el bitterly disappoi n ted
A n d coveri n g her
face with her ha n ds the girl t u r n ed a way with a sob
“
Kathlee n do n ot speak so There is n othi ng
I wo uld n ot do for y o u B u t i n deed i n this I a m
what was
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KATHLEEN M A VOURNEEN
15
.
m
f
u rs e l f
o
erles
Go
to
ather
yo
Y
o u w ill
s
w
y
p
”
see h ow deter mi n ed he i s
Kathleen looked u p q u ickly A loo k o f terror
shot across her face The n sh e pressed her lips
ti gh tly together a n d the color d eepe n ed i n her cheek
”
I will
I t is a good t h o u ght s h e said fir m ly
act u pon it Pat shall n o t go o u t o f his ho me
n
i
m
To m or
w itho u t a effort bei n g m ade to save h
ro w m or n i n g I shall see yo u r fa ther m ysel f
G oo d
A n d sh e w e n t q u ickly a way fro m h i m
bye
do wn the hill L io n el watched her retreati n g fig u re
a so ften ed l i ght i n his eyes
Kathleen M a v o u rn een y o u ha v e a ten d er little
heart B u t alas ' I a m a fraid y o u go o n a u seless
”
erra n d
Then mou n ti n g h i s h o rse he gallop ed off after
h i s frie n ds
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C H A P T E R II
KAT HLEEN a wok e
.
ext m or n i ng w ith a h ea vy
load at her heart H er sleep had bee n broke n her
drea ms tro u bled For the sake o f Pat O Con n o r
his w i fe a n d children sh e had resolved to go up to
the Wood H ou se an d i mplore M r Dean to be m erci
A nd
fu l B u t the tho u ght o f doi n g so terrified her
as she lay t ossi n g fro m side to side i n the lo n ely
d a rk n ess o f th e n ight a n d pict u red the ster n face
a n d cold m a n n er o f L io n el s father she felt that s h e
co uld n ot go to h i m ; that s u ch a n ordeal was m ore
tha n she co u ld bear a n d that a fter all it w o u ld
probably be u seless i n deed it m ight eve n do m ore
har m tha n good ; an d she deci d ed to s p are hersel f
a n d n o t go
B u t the n she reflected she m ight be
—
u
s
f
u
s cces l she might m o ve the m a n an d so fte n his
heart to wards Pat a n d his u n h ap py fa mi ly There
wa s al ways a cha n ce o f that
So at last, sh e dropped
n
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v
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16
KATHLEEN
off
tosl eep h ep m g
M A v oU RNE E N
.
p rayi n g that sh e m ight ha v e
co u rage to do what was ri ght
L o n g be fore dayl i ght Kathleen a wo ke an d dress
i n g q u ickly stole a way do wn the m o u n tai n side
alo n g the wet shi n i n g s a n ds to the lon e barn like
str uct u r e that ser v ed as the chapel
i n w hich the
poor p easan ts worshipped God wi th all the fer v or
o f thei r si mple l ov m
hearts
M
ass
j
u
st
l
w
a
s
e
n
b
,
g
g
n i n g as the girl e n tered a n d falli n g u po n her k n ees
i n a q u iet corn er sh e i m plored o u r L ord to g l v e
and
.
,
-
,
,
-
,
'
.
,
,
per for ma n ce
her disagreeable task
of
fel t
.
v ery brave a n d w as able t o tell her m other o f
her i nten ded e x peditio n wi tho u t a q u i v er l n her
,
M rs B u rk e
a refi n ed ge n tle w o ma n o f so me
forty fi v e ye ars
She was a di sta n t co u si n o f the
late M rs Dea n a n d had lived w ith her for m any
years as a co mpa n i o n She was pretty a n d w ell
n
n
c
u
i
u
n
d
ated
h
ppy
e
o
gh
her
o
si
s
a
s
u
d
a
c
e
an
w
.
was
,
-
.
.
,
.
’
little h o pe of e v er beco m i n g an ythi n g else S O
wh en ha nd so me T o m B u rk e w ith h is rolli n g brogu e
.
,
,
KAT HLEEN M A VOURNEEN
good n atu red m an n er ca me to the Wood
H o u se an d asked her h a n d i n marri age the girl
gladly co n se n ted a n d after a short e n gage men t
beca m e his w i fe T he Dean s were s h ocked at the
N ot becau se T o m was a Cathol ic for L u cy
m atch
—
a lso belo n ged to th e t r ue fait h
b u t fo r the si m ple
reaso n that h e w as o n ly a far m er a ten a n t at w il l
o f the great la n dlord o f th e place M r Dea n hi m sel f
Still T o m was w el l to do H is father had been to
A m erl ca had there am assed a co n s iderable s u m o f
m o n ey a n d ret u rn i n g ho me to Do n egal had tak e n
a large far m a n d b u ilt u po n it a h an dso m e c o m
fortab l e ho u se i n which he h ad li v ed h appily for
so m e years a n d o n d yi n g had left it to h i s s on T o m
So a fter the Dean s had recovered from their first
asto n ish men t at the n e ws that eve n a lo wly an d
distan t con n ectio n of their great fam ily w as willi n g
to stoop to m arry an Irish far mer they beca me
gra d u ally recon ciled to th e i d ea a nd ge n tle L ucy
Grey becam e T o m B u rke s w i fe w ith o u t fu rth er
oppositio n D u r i n g M rs Dea n s li fe L u cy her
h u sba n d an d child were freq u e n t g u ests at the
Wood H o u se ; b u t a fter h er death which occ u rred
n earl y tw elve year s be fore this story b e l n s
they
g
an d
ki n d
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KATHLEEN M AVOURNEEN
2O
T
Bu rk e con ti n u ed to
om
.
w ork
his far m payi n g
p u n ct u ally th e m o n ey de ma n ded by this graspi n g
la ndlord a n d the n he died
M ake what y o u can o u t o f the lan d L u cy b ut
”
do n ot i m pro v e was his last ad vice to his w i fe
“
Sav e w hat y o u can agai n st a rai n y day For i f
ever y o u are i n trou ble No r man Dea n will be a
cru el m aster H e w o u ld s qu eeze ou t yo u r last
farthi n g a n d the n cast y ou forth to d i e
God help
”
n do n othi n g fo r
u n ow
u
dearest
I
a
c
o
o
y
y
A fter her h u sban d s death M rs B u rke e njoyed
several prospero u s years The farm was i n excellen t
co n ditio n an d sh e was able to p u t m o n ey i n the
ban k a n d ed ucate her d a ughter as a l ady T he n
ca m e a s uccessio n o f wet s u mmers fail u re of crops
an d loss o f cattle by disease
A n d at the ti me o u r
sto ry open s the little savi n gs were m u ch di m i n ished
a n d tho u gh n o t o wi n g a pe n n y o f re n t th e brave
w o ma n a n d her child we re feeli n g the pi n ch o f
i n m ore ways tha n o n e
Still they were
better off tha n their n eighbo u rs a n d their ki n d
hearts were s o re as day a fter day they saw whole
fa m ilies thro w n o ut o f t h eir o n ce happy ho m es to
die o f star v atio n a mon gst the l o n ely m o u n tai n s
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K
ATHLEEN MA VOURNEEN
21
.
”
“
My darli n g said M rs B urke as Kathlee n
“
u n folded her pla n s to her
do y o u thi n k there is
m u c h u se i n goi n g to th e Wood H o u se ? I f L io n el
fail ed with his father h o w ca n y o u hope to s u e
.
,
,
,
,
c eed
?
”
”
“
L ion el was n ot i n ear n est ; I a m a n s wered the
“
g irl
H e does n o t believe i n p oor Pat I do
,
.
.
.
’
have m ore e ffect than h i s
“
Perhaps B u t Kat h lee n be care ful Do
a n ger M r Dea n pet H e is o ur l a n dlo rd
.
.
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,
,
,
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,
7)
Kathlee n fl ushed
“
Sh e
.
lo o ked a n xio usly
at
are n ot i n his po wer ? Y o u do
”
n t?
re
o we a n
y
M rs B urke raised her eyes revere ntly to H eave n
“
Glory be to God n o I a m tha n k ful d eeply
tha n k ful I h a ve paid every pe n n y B u t these are
hard ti mes dearest I co uld n o t pay m ore tha n I do
”
a n d i t w o u ld kill m e Kathlee n to leave m
ho
e
m
y
Kathleen p u t her arm s ro u n d her m other s n eck
a n d dra wi n g her head u po n her boso m kissed her
B u t we
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KATHLEEN M AVOURNEEN
22
“
.
Y ou
sh all n e v er be asked to do that dearest
E ven i f the v ery w orst w ere to ha ppen a n d
M r Dean threate n to t u rn u s o u t L io n el wou l d
n o t allo w h i m to
do so
I a m n ot u n easy
”
m other
M rs B u rke sighed an d looked c u rio usly at her
daughter
Wh y do yo u p i n yo u r faith on L io n el ? H e has
failed y o u i n this a ffair o f Pat O Co n n or
He
see ms q u ite i n di fferen t as to what occu rs u p on the
”
estate
”
“
Yes ; at presen t I fear he 1 s B u t the color
deepen ed sli g htly i n the g irl s cheek there is good
m u ch good i n L io n el m other
A n d were h e o n ce
ro u sed
“
W ell i f the thi n gs that are goi n g on arou n d
h i m n ow do n o t do that M a v o u rn ee n I do n t k n o w
The po verty a n d s u fferi n gs are terrible
w hat w i ll
Tr uly the patien ce o f the people is w o n de rfu l
God alon e can gi v e the m the stren gth a n d resig n a ti o n
that they sho w i n th e m idst o f s u ch tro u ble Their
faith i n H is good n ess is bea u ti fu l a n d very to u ch
.
,
I
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’
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,
i ng
”
.
“
Yes
,
so
it is
.
B u t,
oh ' m oth e r it
,
ma k es m e
KATHLEEN
M AV OU R NEEN
23
.
a n gry M y b l ood boils with i n dign atio n whe n I
s ee thos e s u fferi n gs
a n d thi n k h o w easily they
co u ld be pre v e n ted W o u ld that I w ere a lan dlord
w ith a large estate a n d m o n ey to spe n d
What a
ha p py place i t w o u ld becom e My te n an ts sho u l d
have co m fortable ho mes n ice little far ms a n d patches
o f grazi n g la n d fo r their co ws
The children sho uld
be well a n d war m clad
Their school roo m s
sho u ld be large an d airy a n d oh ' the treats I d
give the m Wh y there w o u ld n o t be a sick or
”
sorry perso n u po n the property
M rs B u rke s m iled a n d caressed her da ugh ter s
han d whic h still lay u po n her sho u l d er
“
My darli n g yo u r pict u re is I fear u topia n
a n d e v e n had y o u the m ea n s i m p o ssible to rea l iz e
H o wev er b etween the pre sen t state o f a ffairs a n d
—
yo u r happy drea m s there is a w i d e a terrible
di ffere n ce B u t w hat are y o u go i n g to as k M r
”
?
Dea n to d o fo r Pat O Co n n o r
“
N ot m u ch M erely to allo w h i m to stay i n this
w retched shed that he has b u il t fo r h i mself u n til
the spri n g w he n Father Lav cn s hopes to have
gathered together en ou gh m on ey to sen d h i m and
”
his li ttle fa m ily to A merica
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KATHLEEN M AVOURNEE N
21
-
.
“
H e can
said M rs B u rke
“
—
m u si ngly
n
a d yet
i f N or m a n Dea n has m ade u p
h is m i n d it will be hard to m ove
d earest o n yo u r erra n d o f
bless
loo k a fte r
prosper
mu s t go o u t n o w
.
,
,
,
,
m y m en
”
.
,
CHAPTER I II
.
As
Kathleen passes thro u gh th e v illage she is
greeted w ith s m iles a n d bo ws a n d God save y o u
”
ki n dly M iss fro m e v eryo n e s h e m eets
The
ch ildren i n sca n ty rags stop their ga mes i n fro n t
to p u ll their fore locks o r
o f the s q u alid cabi n s
ma ke their little c u rtseys as they see her co m i n g
to wards the m For dearly d o they al l love this
bea u ti fu l girl w h o they k n o w w ell has a stro n g
a ffectio n and sy m pathy for the m an d theirs She
is n ot rich has n ot m u ch i n her po wer ; b ut a
ki n d w ord a s m ile o f recog n ition a s ign that y o u
thi n k h i m w orthy o f co nsideratio n a n d respect
w ill do m ore to w i n the heart o f the poor Celt
than a n y q u a n tity o f the good thi n gs o f this w orld
doled o u t to h i m i n charity A n d i n e v ery look
a n d w ord Kathlee n sho ws th e deep love she feels
fo r these s u fferi n g p eople
A lo n g the way sh e
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KATHLEEN M AVOURNEEN
26
.
s tops con ti n u ally to ask n e ws o f a sick child a
bed ridd e n m other or a dyi n g father She k n o ws
a l l t h eir tro u bl es a n d takes a n i n terest i n every t hi n g
A t last sh e leaves th e village behi n d a n d h a vi n g
walked fo r so m e dista n ce alo n g the w ide sa n ds s h e
rests a w hile o n the top o f a slope over Dow n i n g s
B ay w hich is a dark cal m pool deep bl u e i n the
shado w o f the m o u n tai n s ; a char m i n g spot pic
t u res q ue a n d bea u ti fu l a m id that bleak sce n ery
For here the hills are so ft a n d green the trees
l a rge a n d w ell gro wn
A n d n estli n g co m fortably
i n a w ide pla n tatio n s u ggesti v e o f lordly w ealth
a n d ease lies the W ood H o u se
the ho m e o f N o r
m a n Dea n o n e o f the w ealthiest m en i n Irela n d
H o w stra n ge it is to s ee that Sple n did m a n sio n
”
“
he re tho u ght Kathlee n
It is hard to believe
that s o m u ch wealth s u ch u n bou n ded riches c ou l d
d well side by side w ith s u ch dire poverty m isery
Su rely th e m aster o f all this n eed n o t
a n d wa n t
be so eager to gather u p the hard earn ed po u n ds o f
the peo ple or so a n xio u s to t u r n o u t those wh o
ca n n ot pay their re n t M r Dea n like Lion el d oes
—
or he w o u ld n ot h e co u ld n ot be
n o t u n dersta n d
”
so hard
,
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-
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KATHLE E N MAVOURNEEN
28
.
I do fo r y o u n othi n g w ron g with yo u r m o ther
I hope ? the farm is d oi n g well She m akes a n
”
e x celle n t ten a n t
“
M y m other is well tha n k y o u A n d so
”
“
it is n ot for
b u t oh ' bl u shi n g a n d tre m bli n g
m ysel f I a m here M r D ea n b u t fo r poor Pat
—
O Con n o r
Will y o u say y o u w ill allo w h i m
to stay i n the b u t h e has b u ilt o n his old far m
u n til th e spri n g
H is childre n are delicate his
Pray let the m stay a n d God
w i fe is w eak a n d ill
w ill bless y o u
A s Kathlee n spoke M r Dea n s face u n der we n t
a c u rio u s chan ge The s m ile q u ickly faded ; th e
li n es abo u t h is m o u th beca m e ha rde n ed ; his lips
were fir m ly set a n d his eyes sho n e w it h a cold
h ard light
To that re qu est I reply e m phatically n o
he
a n s wered sharp ly
Pat O Con n o r m ust leave his
far m at o n ce a n d forever
I told L io n el so
”
yesterd ay
“
—
B u t L ion el did n o t explai n did n ot tell y o u
”
“
sh e i n sisted ear n estly
H e did n o t say
all
that he w an ted to stay o n ly u n til the S pri n g whe n
Father L a v en s w il l be able to sen d h i m an d his
ca n
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KAT HLEEN M AVOURNEEN
29
.
childre n to A m erica I f y o u t u rn the m o ut n o w
”
they may d i e o f star vation
“
That is n ot my affair Pat O Co n n or has n o
r ight to b e where he is H e w as legally evicted
fro m his holdi n g
The la n d is m i n e M iss B u rke
S u rely I can do wh at I like w ith m y o w n property
So lo n g as tha t m an re mai n s i n that h u t n o o n e
w ill take the far m a n d that wo u ld be a loss a
”
disti n ct loss to m e
Kathleen s eyes w a n dered ro u n d the ha n dso me
library w ith its w ealth o f pict u res its richly car v ed
cabi n ets i ts m arble b u sts its v al u able books its
w ar m velv e t ha n g i n gs a n d so ft thic k carpet ; an d
the n be fore her s h e see m ed to see the i n terior o f
Pat O Co n nor s cabi n w it h its solitary stool its
b roken table a n d cracked iro n pot
“
—
A n d y e t he w as hap py there happier tha n
”
this m an i n the m idst o f all his l u x u ry sh e
—
f
tho ught
Poor Pat y ou ask or little an d that
little is d e n ied y ou
The n as sh e looked at M r Dean a n d n oti n g h o w
w ell fed a n d well clad he w as co mpared h i m w ith the
thi n e maciated peasan t a n d his starvi n g childre n a
g reat l ump r ose i n he r throat an d sh e b u rst i n to tears
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KAT HLEEN M AVOURNEEN
O
.
”
Come, co me y o u m u st n ot be so se n siti v e
Dean looki n g a n n oyed
It is
re m arked M r
absu rd to feel so m u ch for these people Their o wn
lazy habits ca use all t h eir s u fferi n gs
L et Pat
go an d work It w ill do h i m good It IS qu ite
ridic u lo u s the way these Irish cli n g to the la n d
é
I d le good for n oth i n g
Kathlee n started to her feet her han ds tre mbli n g
her dark eyes flashi n g a n grily
”
—
M r Dean
her you n g v ibrati n g
sh e cried
Y o u can n ot believe what y ou
v oice ful l of scorn
m
n
it
is
i
possible
This
is
a
lie
that
has
bee
sa
y
repeated so o fte n by y ou lan dlords that th e world has
co me to belie v e y o u O u r people are n ot idle except
A n d y o u k n o w that
w hen they are forced to be s o
well
Wh at are they to do w he n the la n d is take n
fro m the m ? W here can they fi n d wor k ? \Vill
1 ve it t o the m
ou
y
g
My d ear yo u n g lady yo u r lan g u age is v iole nt
H o wever I forg i ve y ou o n accou n t of yo u r extre m e
yo u th B u t allow m e to s ay t h at y o u talk a great
deal o f n on sen se H o w ca n I provide w ork fo r
the whole cou n try side ? These m en m u st look fo r
it themsel ves Where there s a will there s a way
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KAT HLEEN MAVOURNEEN
31
.
re me mber A n d n ow pray let us chan ge the su bject
H ave y o u bee n ridi n g lately
”
N o I ha v e sold my horse sh e an swered
—
shortly
B u t tell m e m u st Pat really go ?
“
Certai n l y an d the soo n er the better If he does
n o t leave the cabi n qu ietly he shall be forced o u t
“
The n I ha v e n o m ore to say M ay God for
”
gi v e y ou M r Dea n sh e sa id i n a choki n g v oice
”
Good bye
Good bye A n d pray do n ot take this m atter to
heart That fello w is n o t worth a sigh R em e m ber
”
A n d he held o u t his ha n d
m e to yo u r m other
B u t the girl did n ot appear to n otice it a n d
m erely bo wi n g her head w alked slo wly fro m the
roo m A s the o n e door closed u p on Kathleen
L io n el open ed an other at the opposite side o f the
roo m an d walked i n
What N iobe ha v e y o u had w ith y o u this
I fan cied
m or n i n g father ? he asked c a rel essl v
I h eard the so u n d o f w eepi n g as I passed do wn the
”—
corridor Wh y
goi n g to the w i n do w an d catch
it s Kathlee n
i n g sight o f the retreati n g fi g u re
—
B u rke Kathlee n M a v o u r n een
A n d I d eclare
”
she is stil l i n tears
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KAT HLE E N M A VOURNEEN
32
And
.
’
payi n g n o atten tio n to his father s repeated
calls he left the hou se a n d h u rried al o n g the aven u e
after the yo u n g girl
A s his son disappeared M r Dea n san k back i n
h i s chair a n d dr u m med i m patie n tly w ith his fi n gers
u po n the table
There was a n a n gry fro wn u po n
his bro w a cr u el smile u po n his lips
A liar ' She dared to 1 n s 1 n u ate that sh e tho ught
m e a liar
A m ost da n gero u s i m perti n en t girl
,
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say The boy is yo u n g a n d perhaps s u sceptible
—
I m u st watch a n d i f I fi n d a n y s i gn s o f I m u st
s w eep her fro m his path
The m other is b u t a
te n an t at will a n d i f I fi n d the s mallest trace o f
—
m other a n d da u ghter
w hat I fear they shall go
”
D un mo re shal l ha ve a n ew ten a n t
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CHAPTER IV
.
H EA RI N G the so u n d o f footsteps behi n d her
K athleen h u rried o n w ishi n g i f possible to esca p e
u n n oticed fro m the gro un ds o f the W ood H o u se
B u t L io n el was q u icker tha n s h e a n d very soo n h e
ca me u p pan ti n g a n d breathless to her side
Y o u are s w i fter than Atalan ta an d wo u ld easily
”
he
h a v e beate n that da m sel a n d secu red the prize
B u t s u rely Kathlee n y o u do n o t
said la u ghi n g
,
,
,
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,
,
co mpa n ion
tears to his Then m eeti n g his gla n ce full o f
she bl u shed deeply her ey e lids
a n xio u s In qu i ry
d rooped a n d she a n s wered sadly
N o A n d yet a fter to day I fear o u r frie n d
”
ship m u st be at a n en d
he qu esti o n ed gra v ely
Y o u are n ot i n ear n est
.
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3
KATHLEEN MA VOURNEEN
34
.
is n ot a thi n g o f yesterday Kath
—
l ee n
I t w o u ld take m u ch i n fact there is n othi n g
”
tha t I can i magi n e that co u ld ever p u t a n en d to it
”
I h av e a n gered yo u r father sh e said i n a lo w
“
H e told m e he forgave m e b ut I feel he
v oice
—
—
has n ot n ot really h e spoke harshly cr uelly
—
n
I
o f Pat O Co n or a n d all o u r people abo u t
—
I lost m y te mper a n d s o
“
Y o u told h i m what y o u tho ught o f h i m a n d his
”
“
cl ass ? A n d I m u st say s m ili n g y o u are v ery
hard upon u s al l B u t cheer up m y little frie n d
Ti
e
m
o u are yo u n g a n d e n th u siastic
a n d ex eri
p
y
en ce will do u btless cha n ge y o u My father w ill
o n ly lau gh at yo u r plai n speaki n g H e w ill n o t
bear y ou a g r u dge A n d as for m e I a m q u ite
acc u sto med to yo u r hard k n ock s a n d lo ng l ect u res
”
abo u t m y d u ty etc
Kathlee n s miled
Yes I do preach s o meti m es
”
“
sighi n g I a m afraid I do n o good My
B ut
te mper is so h ot that whe n I feel m u ch I get
excited a n d the n I i n v ariably say the w ro n g thi n g
I f I co u ld o n ly keep cool m y w ords w ou ld have
more weight a n d then eve n y ou si r m igh t o cca
”
s i o n ally liste n to m e
O u r frien dship
,
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a
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KAT HLEEN M AVOURNEEN
36
.
e di n g h i m an d his fam ily to A merica
B u t w e m u st say n o m ore abo u t h i m for the prese n t
f
a n d perhaps m
ather
m
ay l ea v e h i m w here he is
y
u n til w e ca n m a n age to se n d h i m a way
I ll speak
to the agen t abo u t it to n ight H e m ight p u t i n a
”
good w ord for the poor beggar
Kathleen s eyes sho ne w ith joy a n d a brillian t
s m ile lit u p her s weet face
”
“
Than k y o u L io n el she cried rapt u ro usly
“
God w il l bless y o u fo r this
I will co n s u l t
”
Father Lave n s a n d see h ow mu ch m o n ey he has
“
D o A n d wh o k n o ws perhaps we m ay be
able to ship the poor thi ngs off at o n ce H o wever
I a m happy to ha v e bro u ght a s m il eto yo u r lips
I w ish y o u w ere n o t so sen sitive Kathlee n fo r i n
this rou gh w o rld o f o u rs s u ch te n dern ess o f h eart
”
will ca use y o u mu ch pai n a n d s u fferi n g
”
“
I a m no t a fraid she an s wered gaily as sh e
folded the n ote a n d p u t it carefu lly a w ay i n her
—
p u rse
I a m stro n g a n d healthy a n d ha v e little
to fear My dear m other tak es su ch care o f me
A n d w ere it n ot
She broke off abr u ptly ; her face gre w wh ite as
d eath a look o f a n g u is h ca m e i n to her eyes a n d
to wards
s n
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,
KA THLEEN M AVOURNEEN
cli n gi n g to L ion el s
.
sh e
a rm ,
poi n ted to wards the
sa n d alo n g the side o f th e w i n di n g bay
”
“
W hat is it ? what is w ro n g ? cried Lio n el
Then as he looked to wards the spot sh e i n dicated
a cry o f horror broke fro m his lips a n d h e ga zed
spell bo u n d at the stra n ge S pectacle before h i m
S u dde n ly bel o w the m a den se s m oke arose the n
high i n to the air spra n g fla m e a fter fla m e fa n n ed
a n d i n creased by the w i n d w hich w as b l o wm
i n
g
stro n gly fro m the sea W ild shrieks soo n ren t th e
’
.
,
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-
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screa m i n g to wards the fire For a few m o m en ts
there was a co n fu sed m u r m u r o f to n g u es a s o u n d
The
o f w aili n g a n d l a m en tatio n the n all w as over
fla mes died do wn a n d n othi n g re mai n ed b u t a f w
s mo u lderi n g ashes
“
It is Pat 0 Co n n or s h u t w hispered Kathleen
“
The poor so uls are n o w w itho u t a ho m e O h
”
L io n el h o w can i t have happe n ed ?
”
“
By acciden t I s u ppose he an s wered
B ut stay
A n d he ra n qu ick ly
here I will go a n d i n qu ire
do wn the ro u gh u n even road that led to the sea
Kathlee n s heart w as sore w mh i n her This bu r n
i n g o f the wretched hovel was a n u n expected bl o w
.
,
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e
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K ATHLEEN M AVOURNEEN
38
.
as sh e watched L ion el d isappear d ow n the
m o u n tai n sh e bega n to w o n d er what was to be d o n e
fo r this u n happy fa m ily an d w here they w o u l d be ab l e
to fi n d a ho m e fo r the m this bitterly cold weather
”
“
It is a m ost u n fort u n ate accide n t S he m u r
“
m u red
It
a n d bri n gs m atters to a crisis at o n ce
w ill sa v e M r ; Dea n the tro u ble o f evicti n g Pat a n d
the ch ildre n poor thi n gs I w o n der if an yo n e is
h u r t ? I trust n o t B u t I can n o t w ait u n til Lio n el
ret u r n s I mu st k n o w the worst as soo n as possible
A n d sh e s tarted off to wards the sce n e o f the disaster
A s she n eared the foot o f the hill she sa w that
a co n siderable cro wd had gathered
The w o me n
had ru n o u t fro m their cabi n s a n d th e m en had
le ft their w ork i n the fields wildly excited by the
sigh t o f the con fl ag rati o n
A s Kathleen approached the edge o f th e cro wd
sh e sa w Father L ave n s
the m u ch beloved parish
priest stan di n g a m o n gs t the people a n d above the
n oise
she cou ld hear h i s v oice raised i n to n es o f
expost u lation a n d e n treaty
“
Go back n o w to yo u r w ork i n the n a m e o f
”
“
God he said
There is n othi n g m ore to be
d on e Pat an d his fa m ily m ust co m e to my ho use
An d
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KATHLEEN MA VOURNEEN
39
.
the p resen t Try n ot to m u r m u r or co mplai n
\Ve m u st ta k e this fresh afflictio n as fro m the ha n d
L et u s bear it m eekly a n d pa tie n tly lest
o f God
greater ev ils befall u s Disperse n ow a n d m ay the
”
A l m ighty bless y ou
The people bo wed their heads a n d S lo wly d i d
his biddi n g Father L av e n s w atched the m a n x
i o u sly fo r a few m o m e n ts then seei n g Kathlee n o n
the read he t u rn ed a way a n d we n t to m eet her
w ith o utstretched ha n ds
”
“
“
My child he said this is n o place fo r y ou ;
co m e back to D u n more There i s n o o n e h u rt
tha n k God they all escaped q u ite easily B ut this
act of cru elty has ro u sed the a n gry passio n s o f those
poor fellow s Don ot speak to a n y o f the m to day ;
they are excited a n d sore at what has happen ed a n d
”
it is hard to bla m e them
B u t s u rely it was a n accide n t ? it was n o
”
body s fau lt
Alas n o dear ch ild it was n o a cciden t Wo uld
to God that it had been It is on ly a cr u el w ay o f
getti n g rid o f a n obn oxiou s te n an t The little b u t
w a s b u r n ed do wn by the express orders o f o u r la n d
”
lord lVIr N or ma n Dea n
fo r
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CHAPTE R V
IT
.
is May A n d a way a m o ngst the wilds o f
Do n egal the weather is m ild a n d ge n ial
T he
hard ships o f wi n ter are at a n en d a n d as the peo ple
feel the so ft Spri n g rai n a n d wa rm s u n shi n e th ey
r a ise thei r heads
n t tha n ks to God
i
v
e
er
e
a nd
f
v
g
D u ri n g th e dreary d ays o f Ja n u ary a n d M arch
w h e n fierce stor m s o f w i n d a n d ra i n s wep t do w n
the m ou n tai n passes a n d the air w as d a mp a n d
bitterly col d fa m ilies w ere evicted right a n d left
cas t adri ft by their cr u el la ndlord to seek food a n d
shelter where they cou ld What beca m e o f th e m
m at tered little to h i m
H e had a righ t to drive
th em o ff his la n d a n d t u r n i t i n to past u re i f he
c h o se
The la n d u pheld h i m a n d helped h i m to
et rid o f these w orthless creat u res
no
H
e
had
g
p ublic opi n io n to f ar that is n o n e that he val u ed
The w orld at large k n e w n othi ng o f what was
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e
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40
,
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K AT HLEEN
M A VO URN E E N
41
.
this
f
ar of
co
u n try a n d M r Dea n n ever
f
p
g
stayed his ha n d fro m a n
f
eeli n g o f sy m pat h y w i th
y
the poor s ufferi n g t en a n ts So evictio n s w e n t o n
ap a ce All sign s o f h u m a n habitatio n were f as t
disappeari n g a n d i n e very cabi n there was sorro w
e very fa m ily m o u rn ed so m e departed frien ds
B u t n o w as the spri n g ca m e ro u n d givi n g
pro m ise o f a fi n e s u mmer a n d a good har vest past
tro ubles were partly forgotte n a n d hope spra n g u p
i n t h e hearts o f those wh o h ad been fort u n ate
e n o ugh to escape the evic tor s ha n d a n d r em ai n
u po n their far m s
A n d o f all the people u po n the
estate the i n mates o f D u n m ore w ere the m ost
h appy a n d hope ful M rs B u rke had bee n weak
a n d aili n g d u ri n g th e w i n ter m o n ths ; b u t sh e w as
m u ch be tter si n ce the w i n d had ch a n ged a n d th e
The w ork o f th e fa rm w as goi n g on
s u n w arm er
The crops already so wn see med fl o u ri shi n g ;
w ell
d to be do n e wo u ld be
a n d the little th at re m ai n e
fi n ished i n good ti m e E verythi n g abo u t th e fa rm
The i n d ustrio u s w i d o w as M r Dean
w a s i n order
had sai d w as a n excellen t te n an t
A n d as Kathleen we n t abo u t her ho usehold
d uties or looked a fter her d ai ry a n d po u ltry h er
a ss m
ln
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KATHLEEN MA VOURNEEN
42
h eart was
.
light an d sh e sa n g s n atch es o f brigh t
so n gs or la ughed m errily at old B iddy s w ise say
i ngs a n d c u rio u sly q u ai n t re marks For the g l rl
was happy i n deed ; happier tha n s h e had bee n fo r
years Wh y she felt so sh e co u ld n ot have told
d
m
She
had
al
ays
loved
her
ho
e
The
il
ou
w
w
y
bleak bea u ty o f the co u n try had n ever been a ny
thi n g b u t char m i n g i n her eyes B u t n o w every
thi n g was m ore bea u ti fu l m ore belo v ed than before
N ever had the m o u n tai n s looked so gran d ; n e v er
had the shi fti n g m ist w reaths that draped their
tops see med so grace fu l or fa n tas tic ; n ever had the
r ugged peaks m ade s u ch a pict u res q u e fra m e work
a a l n st the archi n g s k
g
y
On the day that p oor Pat O Co n n o r s w retched
b u t had bee n b u rn ed over his head a n d he a n d his
w i fe a n d childre n cast o u t u po n the road side
Kathlee n had sn fl ered i n te n sely B u t tha n ks to
L io n el s gen erosity a n d Father L a ve n s exertio ns
the little fh m i ly had been se n t o f i mmediately to
A m erica where they w ere m et a n d looked a fter by
a good Irish prie st wh o had the w el fare o f his
e m igrati n g co u n try m e n m u ch at heart Pat was
hard work i n g a n d n ews soo n ca m e that he was
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-
KAT HLEEN M AVOURNEEN
44
.
li fe please God w ill be a lo n g o n e A n d we are of
L io n el s k in N either he n o r his father is likely to
”
be hard o n u s
I wo u ld n o t tr ust M r Nor m a n Dea n Kathlee n
A n d I rej oice that I a m n o t i n a p os i tio n to f ar
So lo n g as I pay my re n t I thi n k he
h i m m u ch
”
w ill s u rely leav em e i n peace
I a m certai n he will . A n d si n ce h e forgot a n d
forga ve the way i n which I spoke to h i m that d a y
a bo u t Pat O Co n n o r he ca n n ot be so easily t u r n ed
agai n st u s m other L io n el says he n ev er all uded
”
to the s ubject
Well dear I wo u ld n o t like to speak to h i m i n
s u ch a way agai n H e forga v e y o u I s u ppose on
”
acco u n t o f yo u r yo u t h
”
“
Yes said Kathleen sighi n g So he told m e
A n d n e w m other I m u st go a n d m ake o n e o f my
lightest a n d best spo n ge cakes fo r tea L ion el is
”
co m i n g to fi n ish
The L ady o f the Lake
I
”
thi n k we Shall fi n ish it this even i ng
A n d sh e
tripped off gaily to the kitchen
M rs B u rke looked a fter her w ith a hal f s m ili n g
h al f a n xio u s expressio n u po n her pale delicate
co u n ten an ce
,
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’
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e
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“
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KATHLEEN MA VOURNEEN
45
.
L i o n el s con v ersio n is to be th e object o f yo u r
—
prayers darli n g the a m bitio n o f you r li fe Well
it is a n oble tho u ght To bri n g h i m ro un d to
k n o w a n d love his people is a w ork w orthy o f yo u r
l ovi n g u n sel fi sh n at u re B u t I do n ot m u ch like
yo u r u n dertaki n g i t fo r yo u r o w n sake There is
m uch da n ger fo r yo u r peace o f m i n d i n these co n
stan t m eeti n gs an d pleasan t readi n gs D an ger for
yo u r h app i n ess an d perhaps for his I won der i f
N orman Dean k n o ws h o w o fte n h i s s on is here If
he is a ware o f the fact a n d does n ot p reve n t h is
co m i n g he is a less w orldly m an tha n I take h i m
for
I m ight stop h 1 s V l s its by a word B ut I
I ca n n ot For Kathlee n M avou rn een
w ill n ot
”
I co uld n ot bear to see a clo u d o n y o u r face
So w hen eve n i n g closed i n th e pret ty parlor w as
ready a n d all prepar atio n s were m ade for Kath
—
lee n s tea party O n the table was the dai n ty pi n k
a n d w hite chi n a a n d sparkli n g silver that had bee n
gi fts fro m som e ric h E n glish relatives to M rs
Golden d affodils
B u rke u po n her weddi n g d ay
n estled
a m o n gst rich bro wn lea v es i n a large old
f ashio n e d b o wl
R olls o f b u tter ; bread as w hite
as s n o w ; an d a spo n ge cake the lightest a n d m ost
’
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KAT HLEEN M A VOURNEEN
46
.
delicio us e ver see n w ere laid o u t fo r the delectation
A ll these dai n ties were
o f the e x pected g u est
prepared by the girl s o wn fair ha n d s A n d n o
wh ere L ion el wa s w o n t to declare did he eat s uch
delightfu l bread an d b u tter as i n the parlor at
D u n more
A t the wi n do w s a t Kathleen a n d her m other
M rs B urke w as k n itti n g a n d as th e n eedles fl ew
s wi ftly thro u gh her fi n gers her eyes rested lo v i n gly
u po n her da ughter
The girl had p u t o n her best dress a so ft cli ngi n g
robe of g rey cash m ere w ith crea my lace frills at
the n eck an d wrists a n d a bu n ch o f pi n k ribbon s
at her throat that see m ed to h a v e le n t a slight ti n ge
o f their colori n g to her ge n erally pale ski n
I n her h an ds she held a piece of w ork a n d ther e
was a pleasan t sm ile o n her lip s a n a m u sed look i n
her dar k eyes as sh e t u rn ed dow n the h em an d
m ade ready to begi n
”
“
B iddy is the qu eerest o f m ortals, m other she
“
said lau ghi n g
She w an ted right or wro n g to
”
tell m y fortu n e to day b u t I refused
“
ite
ight
dearest
I
do
like
ch
u
o
t
u
n
n
r
n
s
o
'
”
s e n se
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KATHLEEN MA VOURNEEN
“
If
47
.
it were o n ly a j oke it w ou ld n ot m atter
”
B u t really B iddy is too sole m n over it
“
Foolis h old w o m an as i f sh e k n e w a n ythi n g
abo u t s uch thi n gs Fortu n e telli n g is a s uperstitio u s
”
a n d n o t to be e n co u raged
ractice
p
”
I q u ite agree with y o u M rs B u rke said Lio n el
O f co u rse
wh o en tered th e roo m at this m o m e n t
B
ut
o u are talki n g o f B iddy s little prope n sity ?
y
”
fortu n es I m u st say are n ot terrible to listen to
”
“
cried
What ? H a v e y ou listen ed to her ?
“
Kath lee n as sh e took her place at the table
I
”
a m s u rprised
”
“
I did n ot listen B u t I was obliged to hear
“
he an s wered lau ghi n g
On e d ay I gave her
hal f a crown a n d sh e t u rn ed upo n m e a n d po u red
torr en t o f n o n sens e abo u t m o n ey bei n g
out a
le ft to m e a lon g jo u rn ey a n d a s weet lady I
—
wa s b u t su ch r u bbish is n o t w ort h repeati n g
”
H o w are the n ew cal v es getti n g o n M rs B u rke ?
H ere the con v ersation beca me strictly agri cu l
t u ral a n d it is n eedless to follo w i n to all the parti e
u l a rs o f the far m
The pi n k
B u t at last the tea ca m e to an en d
an d white chi n a w as carried a w ay a n d as the l adies
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KATHLEEN M A VOURNEEN
48
.
ret u rn ed to their n eed le work Lion el drew forth
his book a n d began to read
The you n g m an was a n e x celle n t reader H is
voice w a s stro n g yet s wee t a n d sy m pathetic an d
as Kathleen liste n ed th e w ork slipped fro m her
fi ngers a n d sh e lean ed slightly for ward her eyes
fix ed drea m ily u po n L io n el s face u n con scio us o f
everythi n g b ut the beau ty of the p oem he was
readi ng
S udde n ly a shado w fell across the floor M rs
B u rke started a n d Lionel looked up qu ickly fro m
his book
So m e on e was sta n di ng at th e wi ndo w j u st n o w
“
he said
It was a m a n I thi n k I s uppose he
”
was e n vyi n g o u r look o f peace fu l h appi n ess
”
“
It was a m an L io n el said M rs B u rke
A nd
do y ou k n o w I tho u ght fo r a m o men t that it was
yo u r father
“
N o fear H e is to o b u sy w ith h is age n t H e
was so absorbed t h at he n ever eve n asked m e where
I was goi n g al tho ugh I had to go i n to the li b rary
”
where he was to get this book
I hop e
Of co u rse I mu st ha v e be en m ista k en
”
I was
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KAT HLEEN MA VOU RN EEN
49
.
I do n t thi n k y o u n eed care m other dear We
”
are m ost respectably e mployed
said Kathlee n
”
“
Go o n L io n el That part is lo vely
s mili n g
So L io n el cleared his v oice an d res u med h is
readi n g
The e ve n i n g darken ed i n to n ight A n d still th e
three fr i e n ds sat o n together disc u ssi n g the boo k
th ey had been readi n g enj oy m g the prese n t ha ppy
ti me wi tho u t an y forebodi n gs of the tro u bles th at
w ere to co m e
A s the clo ck stru ck ten L io n el j u mped u p
”
H o w qu ickly the even l n g has passed he cri ed
“
I had n o idea it w as so late M y dear M rs
B u rke y ou sho uld ha v e t u rn ed m e o u t lo n g ago
B ut i t has bee n d elight ful
W e m u st h a ve a n o th er
m eeti n g soon Kathleen
I h ave a n other story o f
George E liot s to read to y o u I a m s u re y o u wil l
”
be char m ed with it
‘
“
I a m s u re I shall
Silas M arn er was per
”
feet
replied Kathleen brightly
M other a n ' I
W hat is it B id d y
”
I f y o u please M r L io n el s aid th e old ser v a n t
“
there s a m an fro m the Wood H o u se bro u ght
”
“
A n d sh e held o u t a letter
this
H e tol d m e i t
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KATHLEEN
5O
M
AVOU RNEEN
.
s u re I kep t it a n h i m
w a i ti n a bit fo r I wo u ld n t d ist u r b yer readi n for
”
h i m n o r the likes o f h i m A n m a a m d ear a n d
her voice tre mbled as s h e t u r n ed to her m istress
he wa n ts to spake to y o u I ve p u t h i m i n to yo u r
”
o wn little parlor as he told m e it was b u si n ess
“
u
t
ite
right
B
iddy
I
do
n
t
thi
k
he
u
B
n
'
sho u ld tro u ble m e abo u t b u si n ess at this ho u r o f the
n ight ;
H o wever I s uppose I m u st see 11 1 m
Good n ight L ion el Ma n y than ks fo r yo u r bea uti
”
fu l rea d i n g
I have enjoyed it i m m
e n sely
”
“
Good n ight M rs B u rke he an s wered
This
”
n ote i s fro m m
f
A
n d he says
n ci n g
ather
gla
y
“
over the page
tho ugh sorry to distu rb y o u or
i n terr upt the char m i n g party that I saw gathered
”
together i n M rs B u rke s parlor
“
Then it was yo u r father w h o looked i n at the
”
“
cried M rs B urke her color fadi n g
Is
wi n do w ?
”
he an gry L io n el ?
”
“
A n gry ? a n s wered the yo u n g m an la ug h i n g
“
My d ear M rs B u rke wh y sho u ld he be ? B u t
H e wishes m e to go ho m e at o n ce as I a m
l i ste n
to start fo r E n glan d to m orro w m orn i n g early o n
i mporta n t b usi n ess I a m v ery sorry I t wil l
B ut
was m ost p erti cla r
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52
a
ha v e had bad
—
Il l
an d i n
y
’
’
n
-
e ws
an
God help her
.
’
.
For she s
’
Kathleen w aited to h ear n o m ore B ut t u rn i n g
fro m the w i n do w sped q u ickly do wn the passage to
her m other s roo m
I n a n a rm ch air her face wh ite as m arble a look
o f u n u tterable w o e i n her poor frighte n ed eyes lay
M rs B u rke At the sight o f her da ughter she tried
to sp eak a n d ra ised her han ds with a ges t u re o f
horror B u t the w ords refused to co me, a n d S he
sa n k back with a groa n
Terrified Kathleen fl u n g hersel f o n her k n ees
b es ide the chair weepi n g bitterly
—
M other m other what is it ? t at has m ade
u ill ?
o
y
”
“
My darli n g gasped the u n h appy w o ma n at
—
—
—
The blo w has falle n y o u I shall soo n be
last
—
M r Nor m an Dean has
w ithou t ho me or shelter
”
—
-s e r v d m e—
e
with a n otic e to q uit
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CHAPTER V I
.
blow had fallen
The b l o w that of
late the poor w ido w had dreaded a n d yet felt she
had n o right to expect She had b een a good ten an t
H er h u sba n d a n d his father be fore h i m had ex
pe n ded m u ch ti m e a n d m o n ey u po n the la n d and
had b u ilt th e pretty ho u se D u n m ore i n which they
had lived an d died B u t n o w fo r a m ere c ap rl ce
becau se th eir la n dlord con sidered that sh e a n d her
d a ughter were i n his way beca u se he was a lar m ed
at L ion el s frie n dship for Kathleen they m ust go
This hard hearted tyran t was resolved to exercise
his right a n d sw eep the m fro m his path
Th is deter m i n ation o f M r Dean s was n ot as we
k n ow arri ved at hastily but was th e res u lt o f
m u ch care fu l tho u ght a n d co n sideratio n
L io n el
he had co m e to the concl u sion was i n dan ger The
ca u se of that d an ger m ust be remo v ed A n d as h e
Y E S ; th e
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58
KATHLEEN MA VOURNEEN
54
.
k n e w h i s son wou ld fight hard fo r his frien ds he
m ade u p his m i n d to get h i m o u t o f the way before
the n otice o f eject men t w as served u po n M rs B u rke
S o the you n g m a n w a s ordered o ff to E n glan d a n d
b u si n ess was m a n u fact u red to keep h i m abse n t till
th e eviction sho u ld ha v e take n place
T h u s i n n ocen t o f what w as goi n g o n L io n el left
Do n ega l a nd tra v eled to L o n do n H e wa s rel u cta n t
to go b u t be for e lo n g he fo u n d li fe i n the m etro
polis extre mely pleasa n t H e had m a n y frie n ds ;
wa s asked o ut a nd m ad e m u ch o f o n e v ery side
a n d as w as n at u ral to a m an o f his age a n d disposi
tion e nj oyed lu m sel f thorou ghly
H is father s
b u si ness occu pied b ut a s m al l p orti n of his ti me ;
bu t it p rogressed slo w ly The la wyers w o u ld n o t
b e h u rried a n d u n ti l t h e m atter was settled he
cou l d n ot thi n k o f goi n g ho m e So the weeks
pass ed over a n d i n spite o f hi m sel f h e was obliged
to re m ai n i n E n gla n d
M e an while the little fam ily at D un m ore was i n
a s tate o f m i n d al m os t borderi n g o n distractio n
Where they w ere to go a n d what they were to do
w ere q u estio n s that th e poor m other a n d d a ughter
as ke d the msel v es a h u n dred t i m es a d ay b u t co u ld
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KATHLEEN MA VO U RNEEN
55
.
e ver an s wer in a s atisfactory m an n er
L ea v e
D u n more they m u st ; tha t wa s the decree o f their
l a n dlord a n d there w as n othi n g fo r the m to d o b u t
to obey
Father La v e n s w en t to the Wood H o u se a n d did
all he cou ld to m ove M r Dea n and m ake h i m
chan ge his m i nd B ut he wa s as hard as ada ma n t
Go they m us t Then a n xio u s at least to get what
he co u ld for the wido w and her child the priest
asked fo r co m pen satio n fo r al l that had been do n e
o n the far m by the B u rkes father a n d so n he w as
lau ghed at and ordered fro m the ho u se
”
It is only what I expected replied Mrs B u rke
whe n Father L a v e n s told her w hat h ad happen ed
”
N orm an Dean has n either heart n o r feel i n g
“
Alas ' I fear n o t God forgi v e h i m for his
cr u elty A n d n ow m y frie n d w e m u st look m atters
”
boldly i n th e face What a re y ou gom g to d o ?
”
Father Lave n s s h e a n s wered s ole m n ly
God
i s v ery m erci fu l to m e
H e is goi ng to tak e m e to
H i msel f My ho u rs are n u m bered a n d e re the
ti m e to qu i t this roof where I ha v e li v ed so lo n g
and happily h a s arrived m y s o u l will ha v e take n
”
flight I shall on ly leav e D u n m ore i n my co ffi n
n
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KATHL E EN
M
AVOURNEEN
.
can y o u tell ? Y o u are w eak a n d ill
”
B u t y ou h ave n o d isease
”
“
Yo u are m istake n th ere sh e said cal m ly
My
hear t has bee n affected fo r years H ad I been
a llo wed to go o n p eace fu lly in m y ho m e I m i ght
B u t this
h a v e liv ed to p erh aps a ripe old age
‘
el blo w has bee n Iny d eath warran t
s h ock this cr u
”
—
day
an
an y h o u r God m ay call m e to H i m s el f
y
”
My poor frien d said th e pries t in a voice fu ll
—
u
n
u
A d does yo r da ghter does Kath
of e motio n
leen k n o w
”
“
Y es A n d sighi n g w hat a brave u n selfish child
H er heart i s breaki n g at th e tho u ghts o f los
sh e i s
—
—
n
n
m
h
i n g m e a d leavi g the ho e s e loves a n d yet she
”
is al ways cheerfu l a n d talks hope fu lly o f the fu t u re
“
So sh e m ay B elie v e m e sh e w ill be h appy
o d w ill t ak e care o f her
She
has
bee
et
G
n a
y
good d au ghter and h as w orked hard a m o n gst the
poor She w ill have m uch to fight agai n st m an y
tro u bles to e n d u re b u t sh e ll have a n oble re ward
i f n o t in this w orl d t he n certai n ly i n the n ext
”
G od bl ess h er sh e is a good u n s el fis h child
The priest Sp oke feeli n gly fo r he l oved Kathlee n
H e k n e w her well had give n
w ith a father s l ov e
H ow
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KA THLEEN MA VOURNEEN
57
.
her her First Co mm u n io n an d see n her con
fir med A n d in all the co u n try he k n e w there was
n o t a fi n er n at u re or a m ore faith fu l devoted heart
tha n that o f the bea u ti fu l girl wh o loved the poor
peasa n ts and lo n ged s o arde n tly fo r their happi n ess
H er prese n ce i n the parish he had al w ays regarded
as a blessi n g to hi m sel f and his people
Her
exa mple had do n e a n i n calc ulable a m o un t o f good
a n d her ready ki n d n ess a n d s w eet n ess o f dispositio n
had e n deared her to all A word fro m Kathleen
was m ore po w e rfu l in the village than a threat o f
p u n ish m en t or an o ffer o f re ward Yo u n g an d old
l ooked u p to and re v ere n ced her an d in this they
had all bee n en co u raged by their p arish p riest H er
virtu e h ad al ways been a so u rce o f happi n ess to h i m
a n d he w as overco m e with grie f a t the tho u ghts o f
the bitter tribu latio n s thro u g h which she m ight
hav e to pass
“
I fear my d arli n g m ay ha v e a thorn y path to
”
tread Father said M rs B u rke a fter a sl i ght pa use
Whe n I die she m u st leav e Do n egal an d go to
”
Lo n don
Father Lav e n s started and look ed at her i n
alarm
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KAT HLEEN MAVOURNEE N
58
To L on do n ? M y frie n d y o u s u rely woul d
n ot se n d the girl to s u ch a w ilder n ess as L ondon
—
alo n e
w ith o u t m ea n s
N o n o She shall go to frie n ds Y o u re me m
ber To m s sister L e n ora , wh o m arried George
Sel wood
“
Yes A rich m erchan t w ho m T o m poor fello w
cou ld n ever e n d u re H e was a Protestan t too ?
“
Yes B u t he n ever i n ter feres with his fam ily,
I belie v e Well , N ora w rites that Kathl ee n m ay
”
go to her
H u mph
A n d w hat does Kath l een say ?
B eggars ca n t be choosers
What can sh e say
Poor chil d sh e w ill probably have m uch to e n d u re
”
a mo n gst these fi n e E n glish co u si n s
”
M uch B ut do n t fret he sai d an xio u s to
reass u re the u n happy m other
She is a brave
creat ure an d w ill s u rely w i n their affectio n God
Y ou m ay sa fely lea v e her i n
w ill take care o f her
”
H is ha nds
The n biddi n g her good m or n i n g h e left the ho u se
I n the garde n he m et Kathlee n
She had gro wn
very thi n o f late H er cheeks were pale, an d there
w ere dark ri n gs u n der her ey e s
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CH APT ER VI I
ME fl e w o n apace an d as the day approach ed
on which s h e and her da u ghter w ere to lea v e their
ho m e M rs B u rke gre w w eaker her hold on li fe
B u t Kathlee n co u ld n o t belie v e
m ore u n certai n
that her m other wa s goi n g to die an d spe n t m a n y
an ho u r thi n ki n g o v er their fu t u re pla n s w o n d er
i n g h o w they w o u ld co n trive to l i v e o n the s m a l l
s u m o f m o n ey they had i n ha n d u n til sh e co u ld
fi n d w ork to d o
”
“
Is n ot th e post m a n late M a v o u rneen ? aske d
“
M rs B u rke o n e bright s u m m er s m orn i ng
He
”
m u st be late
”
“
A little dearest replied Kathleen risi n g fro m
her chair an d lean i n g o u t o f the w i n do w in ord er
that sh e m ight see as far as possible do wn the road
“
B u t I thi n k I see h im co mi n g
to D un fan aghy
”
alon g
T
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60
,
KATHLEEN MA VOURNEEN
“
61
.
I
There
be a
to day I
wa n t to be certai n be fore I go that yo u r a u nt N ora
”
w ill recei v e y o u at o n ce
The girl looked an xio u sly at her m other She
w a s recli n i n g i n a lo n g deep easy ch air a n d a s
Kathlee n s eyes rested u po n her s h e n oticed wi th
a thrill o f pai n h o w w hite and worn she was look
i n g i n the clear bright light o f the m orn in g
H ow
hollo w w ere her che eks ; h o w sharpen ed her fea
t u res Wh at a sad pathetic look there was i n her
s u n ken eyes Was i t her fa n cy ? O r had the dear
face wasted rapidly d u ri n g the p ast week ? A las '
alas ' it was n o fa n cy A n d fo r the first ti m e sh e
realized that her m other s stre n gth was fast decli n
i n g ; that her en d w a s perhaps very n ear
I t was
n o w the l 6 th o f Ju ne an d i n ten d ays fro m this
they m u st leave D u n more \Vo u ld God take this
fragile creat u re to H i m sel f ere the n or w o u ld she
l ive to be carried forth fro m the shelt er o f her ho me
i n a d yi n g co n ditio n ? A n d the gi rl s hea rt sa n k
w ithi n h er as she asked thes e q u es tio n s reflecti n g
To
h o w bitter i t w o u l d be fo r her i n either even t
lose her m other w o uld be ter rible B u t to see her
s u ffer as sh e k n e w sh e wo u ld o n bei n g forced to
a m g l ad
l etter
m ay
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KAT HLEEN M A VOURNEEN
62
.
to
the
n e spot th at sh e lo v ed
o
y
best o n earth see med m ore pai n fu l still ; a n d sh e
al mos t prayed that the poor i n valid m ight escape
fro m this w orld be fore t h e fatal d ay ca m e ro u n d
Yet lo v i ng her m other as she d i d sh e lo n ged to
keep her an d cl u n g to the hope that i f the rem oval
w ere o n ce acco m plished s h e w o u ld gather fresh
stre n gth a n d li v e fo r m a n y years to co m e
”
M other sh e whispered so ftly as sh e ben t o ver
to dra w her w raps m ore closely rou n d her for tho ugh
it was s u mm er M rs B u rke was al ways chilly do y o u
n ot thi n k it w o u ld be better less p ai n fu l fo r y ou dear
es t i f we were to lea v e D un m ore q u ietly to day or
to m orro w
M rs Do n n elly w ill take u s i n for the
prese n t I t is u seless waiti n g here till the en d O u r
”
thi n gs m u st be sold a n d that w ill distress y o u
M rs B urke laid a tra n sparen t han d u po n h er
dau ghter s head an d s m oothed back th e bea uti fu l
bro wn hair fro m the p u re white bro w
”
My darli n g her v oice was lo w b ut fi rm
”
f
he
God
se
ds
m
I
shall
go
N
ot
be
ore
n
f
r
e
n
o
w
“
—
Kathleen s tears fell fast ;
B u t m other i f i f
“
sobs choked her s h e co u ld scarcely speak ; th e d ay
”
—
co mes fi rst T hi n k h o w terrible that will be
good
sa
-
by e forev er,
,
.
,
,
,
,
,
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,
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-
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KATHLEEN MA VOURNEEN
63
.
’
I t wil l
be God s w ill dearest and I shall bear
the s u fferi ng as part o f my P u rgatory Bu t it will
I shall die i n D u n m ore and y ou shall
n o t be
”
h ave to face the world alo n e
”
“
O h m other w ha t shall I do w itho u t y o u ?
Kathleen fl un g her arm s ro u n d her mother s n eck
and hid her face upo n her boso m
For so m e m o m en ts M rs B u rke m ade n o reply
S he pressed her child agai n st her heart i n a close
lovi n g e mbrace H er lips m oved as tho ugh in
prayer an d her strea m i n g eyes were raised to
heaven
”
“
“
My darli n g sh e said presen tly at firs t the
tho u ght o f leavi n g y o u see med m ore tha n I co u ld
bear B u t n o w I feel tha t it is best that I sho u ld
go Best for y o u love a n d fa r fa r better for m e
O n earth I co u ld on ly be a b u rden to y o u weak
—
I n heave n
a n d helpless as I a m
her eyes sho n e
“
I ca n pray fo r y o u a n d help y ou I t is God s will
th at I sho u ld go
H e will take care o f y o u Kath
”
leen I n H is han ds I lea v e y o u
”
A n d as the gi rl ra ised h er head
Yes m other
a n d looked at the s weet face a n d fragile for m o f the
dy i n g w om an she felt a s udden gratit ude to G od
,
,
.
.
,
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,
,
’
,
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,
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,
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,
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,
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’
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’
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l
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,
KATHLEEN M AVOURNEEN
64
.
that H e sho u ld be w illi n g to take her to heave n
and sa ve her fro m the hardship and m isery w hic h
w o u l d s u rely a wait her in th e w ide u n k n o wn w orl d
w hich she w o u ld be obliged to face i f she lived to
leave D u n more
M rs B u rke m et the look o f lo v e and u n selfish
resign atio n i n her child s eyes a n d a s m ile lit u p
her w asted feat ures
My little g irl will let m e go ? sh e whispered
”
“
She w ill s u b mit patie n tly to God s wi ll ?
“
Yes m other I s ee it all n ow Pray fo r me
”
th at I m ay ha v e stre n gth to b ear the par ti ng
“
I w ill lo v e I will
Kathleen rose pressed her li p s lo ng an d lo v i n gly
to her m other s bro w then q u ickly left the roo m
A n ho u r later she ca m e do w n stairs dressed to
go o ut She looked pale an d sad H er eyes were
red w ith m u ch w eepi n g
O n the hall table w ere a co u p le of letters and a
This sh e open ed hastily fo r the address
s mall box
Withi n n estli n g u po n
wa s in L io n el s w riti n g
dam p m oss and maide n hair fern was a bu n ch o f
cri m so n roses They were fresh and fragra n t a n d
as Kathleen li fted the m to her lips they were wet
,
,
,
,
.
.
'
’
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’
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-
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’
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-
,
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,
KATHLEEN MA VOURNEEN
her falli n g tears A sl ip
the m and on it was written '
w ith
.
of
65
.
paper lay be n eath
,
In
a fortn ight I ret u rn
i n gs we shall have the n
.
What pleasa n t even
.
Yo u r frie n d
”
L I ONEL
,
.
“
”
a fort n ight ' A cry esca ped the girl
T oo
l ate too late B u t n o w I k n o w the t ru th Lion el
is ig n ora n t o f wh at is h appen i n g I was s u re o f it
B u t alas ' he will re tu r n to fi nd u s go n e
In
.
.
,
.
,
.
.
.
tai nty that su dde n ly ca me u po n her that she sho u ld
,
,
KATHLEEN M A VOURNEEN
66
.
the hill side a n d at last si n ks down exha usted
a m o n gst the heath er H er m other is d y l ng I n
her prese n ce u n der the i n fl u e n ce o f her holy words
n
s
eet
a
xiety
to
be
ith
God
Kathlee
had bee n
w
n
n
a d w
able to look a n d feel resig n ed B u t here alone
w ith the full k n o wl edg e o f her u tter d esolatio n u po n
her she feels despair an d m i sery take possession o f
her. I t is hard —
too hard she tells hersel f that
she shou ld be robbed o f all that i s m os t dear to her
in l i fe H er m other her ho m e L io n el Al l w o u ld
be taken fro m her Soon there w o uld be n o place
No o n e wou ld wa n t her
fo r her i n the w orld
There wo u ld be n o o n e le ft to lo v e her
The s u n was shi n i n g brillian tly ; a n d far o ut
to w ard s the horizo n rose the dark gloo my o u tline
Far a way lay the deep waters o f
of H orn e H ead
the Atl a n tic a n d crests of fo a m like li v m g thi n gs
flashed whitely fro m ti me to ti me agai n st the s ky
A little lark sa n g high up i n the hea ve n s and the
bea u ty of his son g m o ved the girl a n d for a m o ment
she forgot hersel f
“
H o w i m m e n se is th e po wer o f God
H ow
stra n ge an d w on derfu l are H is ways What care
He takes o f H is creatu res H ow gratefu l th ey
-
,
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I
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KAT HLEEN MAVOU RNEEN
68
al l
.
th e l as t rites of the Ch u rch She w as fadi n g
fast a wa y happy i n th e tho ught that she wou ld
soon be w ith G od
”
“
“
Kathlee n sh e whi sp ered
I am glad I re
.
,
.
,
her
o nce
at
,
Yo u r in fl uence
.
—
Do what is right n o
The
m u red
a nd
m atter w hat
irl
ell
f
u po n her k n ees
g
,
exa mple
it
an d
m ay
w ill
do
cost y o u
’
.
Father L a v en s
oftly
N o w do st T h ou dismi ss T hy se r va n t O
—
Lo rd i n peace M y God ' mercy M ary help
s
.
,
.
.
,
.
D
h ead
s nk a
a
l ittle
on
—
her li ps stil l
on e sid e
mo ved ,
KATHLEEN MAVOURNEEN
‘
69
.
the words were n o lo n ger au dible Then
lo wed a few m o m en ts o f awfu l still n ess broke n
on ly by short labored breathi n g
”
God be m erci fu l to her M ay she rest i n peace
s aid Father L a v e n s re v ere n tly
Then taki n g Kath
leen ge n tly by the h an d he led her a way telli n g
her that sh e was m otherl ess
but
.
,
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,
,
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,
.
,
,
.
CHAPTER VIII
.
LONG an d dreary was Kathlee n s jou rn ey from
Don egal to L on do n
The death of her belo v ed
m other and her depart u re fro m her ho me had well
n igh broken her heart' She was cr u shed with grie f ;
a n d as sh e passed alo n g the road fro m D u n m ore to
Derry , she shed bitter bli n di n g tears
The n e ws o f her goi n g had b een n oi sed abroad ,
a n d as she we n t the people cro w ded a fter her to
”
“
O ut o f the cabi n s they
God speed
w ish her
r u shed with cries o f affection ate fare well Heads
were u n co vered ; ha n ds o u tstretched ; a n d to each
a n d e v eryo n e th e gi rl spoke w ords of lo v e and sor
ro w
I n this si mple child these p oo r people had
fo u n d a faith fu l frie n d a n d wer e grie v ed to s ee her
go She had so o ften soothed the m in ti mes o f
a ffl iction had been their cha mpio n when all ha n ds
were raised agai n st the m , that they had gro wn t o
’
.
,
,
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,
‘
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,
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.
,
.
,
70
KATHLEEN MAVOURNEEN
71
.
lo v e her a n d to look to her for co m fort in their
m is fortu n es
The tho ught that she wa s lea v i n g th e
co u n try n ot o f her o wn free w ill b u t thro ugh th e
i n exorable tyra n n y o f her lan dlord wh o was thei r
oppresso r also i n creased their a n g u ish a h u n dred
fold ; a n d so they pressed aro u n d her
The w o m en
and ch ildre n weepi n g the men wrl n gl ng her han d s
an d wi shi n g her good l u ck and prosperity
Th e
sce n e was a to u chi n g o n e ; b u t pai n fu l in th e ex
tre m e
A n d m u ch as she lo v ed the poor peasa n t s
the gi rl was relieved whe n it was over and sh e was
w ell started on her way to Der ry
I t was a t ryi n g fatig u i n g d ay
A n d whe n a t
last the trai n r u shed i n to the b i g s tatio n at E u ston
Kathleen gave a sigh o f pleas u re She was i n L on
d on
V ery s o o n sh e wo uld be at her jo u rn ey s
end
U n acc u sto med as she w as to travelli n g the poor
girl fel t utt erly bewi ldered as she stepped ou t u pon
the b u sy pl atform She w as h u stled abo u t p u shed
r u thlessly fro m side to si d e a n d al m ost despaired
o f e v er fi n di n g her tr u n k a m idst the m a s s o f l u g
gage that was bei n g t u mbled pell mell o u t o f th e
va n
Bu t a fter m u ch stru ggli n g a n d patie n t wait
,
.
,
,
,
,
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’
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,
-
.
KATH LEE N MAVOURNEEN
72
.
she su cceeded in s ecu ri n g a porter wh o sho u l
dered her box a n d p u t it u p o n th e top o f a cab
Where to m iss ?
Kathlee n stared a t h i m She was so excited by
th e w hirl o f n oise and b u stle that s h e scarcely real
B u t at last she prod u ced
i zed what h e was sayi n g
a paper fro m her pocket a n d re ad her a u n t s address
i n Ke n si n gto n in a l o w frighte n ed v o i ce
”
A ll right
The door ban ged The porter
d to the cab ma n a n d the girl was soon rat
sho u t e
tli n g alo n g the E u sto n road
”
H o w u gly a n d black everythi n g is s h e tho u ght
as she was drive n thro u g h st reet a fter street o f di n gy
A n d oh ' this cro wd a l ways m o v
looki n g ho u ses
—
A n d h o w heavy is the
i ng i t m akes m e giddy
H o w d ifl erei l t fro m the p u re fresh
at mosphere
”
a i r of Do n egal
A fter what see med a n i n ter m i n able dri ve the cab
en te red a sq u are w here the ho u ses rose so m e fo u r or
fi v e stories high sh u tti n g o u t e v e ry prospect except
their o wn gloo my walls; a n d the little patch o f black
d us ty e vergreen s which they s u rro u n ded On e or
t wo o f the trees were ho we v er freshly green ; a n d
on al most e v ery wi n do w sill there were boxes filled
i ng,
,
.
,
.
~
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’
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-
KATHLEEN M A VOURNEEN
73
.
growi n g p la n ts o f m ign on ette a n d large field
daisies
”
Poor flowers so m e o f the m l oo k sadly parched
“
tho ught Kathleen
L ike m e they pi n e for fresh
air B u t I s uppose I have reached the end o f my
jo u r n ey This m u st be A u n t N ora s
The cab stopped a n d tre m bli n g with terror at th e
tho ughts o f faci n g her stran ge relatives Kathlee n
got o u t
”
My G od sh e m u rm u red a s sh e ra n g the bell
“
help me to be brave Help m e to get on w ith
these people Oh m other w o u l d that y ou were
”
w ith yo u r child at this m o m en t
A fter a so m ew hat lo n g delay th e door slo wly
open ed an d a n old w o ma n p u t o u t her head
”
“
You r efro m Irelan d ? sh e a s k ed ey ei n g Kath
with
.
,
,
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,
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’
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,
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,
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,
’
,
Yes I a m fro m Irela n d I a m M rs Sel
”
She k n o ws I a m co m1 n g
w ood s niece
”
“
It s all right ; co m e in co m e i n
A y e aye
An d sh e cal l ed to the m a n to carry u p the gi rl s
l uggage
“
a sked Kathlee n
Can I see M rs Sel wood
”
“
I d like to s ee her at on ce
n ervo u sly
“
.
.
.
’
.
.
’
.
,
,
.
’
.
.
’
.
.
74
KATHLEEN M AVOURNEEN
“
.
M rs Sel wood s n ot i n L ondon She an the
”
y o u n g ladies is i n B righton
“
I n B righto n ? B u t
Oh it w on t be fo r lo n g They o fte n goes fro m
a Sat u rday to M o n day IVIaster J acky s m a id l l
”
look a fter y o u I ll tell her y o u are here
A nd
gow g I n to th e i n n er hall s h e s h o u ted u p the back
’
’
.
.
.
’
.
,
’
’
.
’
.
.
,
R ose
’
.
’
’
Th e niece has co me S h e s wal ti n i n the all
”
L et her w ait I m b u sy
”
She ll be here directly m iss said the w o man
”
co mi n g back to Kathleen
V
Von t y o u s i t do wn
—
poi n ti n g to a hard straight backed seat o f carved
oak
The sh u tters is sh u t in the di n i n g roo m and
there s n o light i n the library or I d ask y o u i n
there We don t open up a n y roo ms we can help
”
when the m issis is a w ay
Kathlee n sa n k u po n the seat and i n the d im
gloo my h all w ept silen tly a n d u n observed What
\Vh at heartless
an ending was this to her j o u r n ey
treat me n t fro m her au n t in who m sh e had hoped to
fi n d a seco n d m other
’
.
.
’
.
.
’
,
,
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’
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-
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’
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,
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KATHLE E N
76
M A v o U RN E E N
.
i n cli n ed to treat h er w ith m u ch respect ev id efitly
regardi n g her as a v isitoro f little co n seq u en ce
”
“
Than k y o u I f it i s not to o m u ch tro uble
“
she an s wered
It wo uld be pleasa n t a fter my
,
.
.
,
.
9?
”
So I tho u ght Y ou look du sty an d tired an d
the wo ma n r u stled leis u rely a way She soo n re
t u rn ed ho wever with a can o f hot water a n d fol
lo wed by a boy with Kathleen s tr u n k u p on his
sho u lder
”
“
said the m aid in co mm a n di n g
P u t it there
to n es A n d when he h ad b u mped it i n to a cor ner
and u n fasten ed the straps they both withdre w a n d
the girl was le ft alo n e
“
Oh ' what a welco m e What a chan ge fro m my
”
sh e cried gazi n g ro u n d the roo m
o wn dear ho m e
a n d n oti n g the slopi n g roo f a n d n arro w wi n do w
“
H ow
th e u ntidy c u rta i n s a n d the faded carpet
”
shal l I breathe i n s u ch a place ? A n d fli ngi n g ope n
th e w in d o w as high as it w o u ld go sh e lea n ed fo r
B u t th e air wa s
wa rd her ar m s u po n the sill
hea vy with the odors of the m e ws ; the v iew of the
slated roofs a n d tall black chi m n ey pots was n ot
a pretty one, an d sh e dre w back with a sigh H er
.
,
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,
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’
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-
,
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,
.
KATHLEEN MA VOURN E EN
en d
of
77
.
the bed T h e n sh e bl ushed deeply a n d a
pa n g of re m orse shot thro ugh her heart
“
I s this bei n g brave ? Is this beari ng m y c ross ?
H o w m u ch better off a m I tha n m an y o f o ur poor
peopl e cast o u t o f t heir ho mes w ith ou t a ny place o f
”
refuge My God gra n t me patie n ce and co u rage
.
,
.
,
,
.
w hich
,
.
had tra velled too k
sh e
,
an
other from her
at h er collar a n d stood wondering where she sho uld
go an d when sh e sho uld get an ythi n g to eat fo r
,
,
,
sta rtled by heari n g a v oice
“
Well has the
,
w ild
in
the n ext roo m, sayi n g
Irish girl arri v ed
Tell her to h u rry I wa n t my t ea Does she
look lik e a s a vage
Kathlee n cou ld n ot hear th e an swer t o thi s qu es
.
.
~
an d
a
sn
eer
.
an d
th e girl s cheeks b urn ed with i n d ig
’
KATHLEEN MAVOURNEEN
78
’
atio n Presen tly so m eo n e kn ocked at her door an d
the stately perso n i n bl a ck silk looked i n
I f y ou are ready w ill y o u co m e this way
Kathleen was qu ite ready so sh e follo wed the
m
n
n
a
do
the
passage
i
to
a
other
roo
v ery
n
n
m
wo
w
like her o wn thou gh so me what larger an d w ith a
w ide w i n do w looki n g o u t u po n the s qu are i n stead
Close to the table i n a cap acl ou s
o f i n to the m e ws
a rm chair sat a boy o f abou t n ine or ten w ith a
thi n white face an d a m ass of c u rly brown hair
A s the girl entered the roo m a n d stood beside
h i m he r heavy black draperies falli n g so ftly ro u n d
her tall slen der fig u re her s weet eyes fixed u p on
h i m w ith a look o f i n q u iry an exp ress1 on o f sorro w
and fatigu e abou t the corn ers of her sen siti v e m ou th ,
the ch ild s m iled ki n dly an d held o ut h i s ha n d
A r e y ou real ly Kathlee n B u rke
”
“
Yes A n d archly I am the wild I rish girl
u sp ok e abo u t j u st n o w
D
o
I
l
o
ok
like
a
sav
o
y
n
,
.
.
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
.
-
,
,
.
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
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,
.
,
,
.
?
e
g
a
The boy cri mson ed t o the roots of
t u rn ed away his head
”
“
I a m so so rry h e stammered
h i s h air,
a nd
.
,
.
“
It
was
a
KATHLEEN M A VOURNEEN
79
.
Kathleen lau ghed m errily
“
I am n ot offen ded A n d n ow that y ou k n ow
my n a m e what is y o u rs ?
A r e y ou o n e o f my
”
cou si n s ?
“
Yes I a m J acky Sel wo od A n d it s a wfully
”
—
good o f y o u to to forgi v e m e
“
N ot at all It was o n ly a joke I a m a wild
Irish g i rl fo n d o f my m o u n tai n ho me a n d hati n g
d u sty streets an d high ho u ses A n d n o w Jacky
”
M ay I kiss y o u ?
we m u st be frie n ds
J acky m ade n o reply ; b u t t u rni n g s u dden ly he
fl u n g his ar ms ro u n d her n eck
The n frig h ten ed
at what he had done he dre w back m u r mu ri n g '
”
“
What a fool y o u mu st thi n k m e
“
N ot at all Y o u are v ery ki n d I do n t fee l
hal f so u n happy as I did A little sho w of affec
”
tion is delightfu l when o n e is lo n ely
”
I suppose it is g ru flly
I do n t get mu ch of
—
it I can tell y ou an d I am o fte n oh ' so o ften
”
lo n ely
Kathleen lo o k e d at h i m co mpassion ately ; an d
as sh e n o ticed the cr u tches by h i s chair th e pale
w eari n ess o f his face a n d the u tte r dejectio n of his
m an n er sh e fel t fu l l o f pity for h i m
H er
.
.
,
’
.
.
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,
,
,
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,
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,
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,
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’
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’
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,
,
.
KATHLEEN M AVOURNEEN
80
.
tro u bles see med very s mall co mpared to those of
this u n happy child
”
Y o u shall n o t be lo n ely a ny m ore
she said
to u chi n g his c u rly hair lightly with her han d
My roo m is n e x t door VVe m ust keep each
”
other co mpan y
O h ' yo u ll be like the rest M other an d
L i n a an d G wen They d on t m ean to be u n ki n d
“
B ut
sighi n g they are so b usy Di nn ers balls
—
they hav en t a m i n ute to spe n d with
v xmts a n d teas
me
You ll soon get drawn i n It seem s so e n tie
”
i n g this whirl o f gaiety a n d a m u se me n t
”
“
It w fl l n ot be so fo r me J acky a n swered
Kathleen the n glan ci n g sadly a t h er black dress
My m other died a fort n ight ago It is n ot likely
I shou ld ca re to go to a n y ki n d o f en tertai n men t
”
fo r a lo n g lo n g ti m e
Did y o u love y o u r m other m u ch
”
“
Very m u ch
H er eyes filled with tears
Sh e
”
was all I had to love J acky
”
T hen it was cr u el that she shou ld be tak en he
”
cried v ehe men tly
V ery cr u el
No dear She was glad to go It was God s
”
will to take her ; an d I a m than k fu l sh e wen t
,
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KAT HLEEN MAVOURNEEN
81
.
odd A re y o u a Catholic ?
“
Yes than k God A n d y o u J ac ky A re n ot
o u a Catholic ?
y
“
O h ' a sort of one I was baptized a n d all that
B u t n obody tro ubles m u ch abou t religio n in this
”
—
ho u se they are too fon d o f fu n
”
Poor little boy m u r m u red Kathleen In a lo w
v oice
N o w o n der y o u fi n d it hard to be patie n t
B u t please G od I shall help y o u to be tter thi n gs
Then looki n g at h i m with a s m ile sh e said alo u d
“
Y o u and I m u st try to set a good exa m ple J acky
and sho w the m h o w happy people ca n be when they
are real stro n g Catholics
”
You m ay do that
I do n t k n o w h o w
Will y ou let m e teach y o u
“
Certai n ly B ut yo u ll fi n d it a hopel ess task
I m so ill te m pered
N o one w i l l ever stay with
m e as go v ern ess
R ose is the o n ly creat u re that
can m a n age m e
She k n o ws my ways a n d doesn t
”
m i nd
“
I shan t m i n d either I th i n k Shall we pro mise
to be frie n d s ?
“
”
“
\Vi th pleas u re
A n d I ll
he cried eagerly
”
try my best to be n 1 ce to y ou
H ow
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KATHLEEN M A VOURNEEN
82
.
M aster Jacky said R ose as sh e placed adi sh
”
“
tea is ready
u po n the table
”
I hope there i s so m ethi n g good ? he questio n ed
So methi n g really good
Cook is o ut B ut J a n e has don e a chop for M iss
”
B urke
”
“
Chop s are horrible dry thi n gs he said im
patien tly
What b u si n ess h as th e cook to b e
”
,
,
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Ou t ?
”
”
I do n t k n o w a n s wered R ose
—
u
h
u
t
n
Well y o o g to k o w It s a shame a
—
horrid sha me whe n there s a v isitor an d
”
“
H u sh J acky
said Kathleen cheerfully
“
Why my dear this is a delight fu l tea Co me
appetite by gr u m bli n g
Shall
n ow do n t sp 0 1 l m
y
I si t at the head o f th e table an d disp en se the good
thi n gs ?
A n d i f y o u do n t m i n d
Y es do pl ease
ch ops
“
I s hal l be v ery glad to get on e I assu re y o u
I a m extre mely h u n gry A good chop is n ot to be
”
despised after a l o n g jo urn ey
A n d as R ose left the roo m Kathleen seated her
sel f at the table a n d ha v i n g said grac e i n a l o w,
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C HAP T E R
I'
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S o me th ree wee k s later L i o n el D ean d ro v e u p to
th e Woo d H o u se o n an ou t sid e ca r, an d s p ran g
l ightly to the gr o u nd
”
“
Well Pat he said gaily to th e s e r v ant, wh o
“
came fo r ward t o m eet h i m
H o w s e very
,
-
,
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,
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’
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”
the best o f health si r
”
“
T h at s right A n y n e ws ?
So rra w ord Bey an t an e v iction o r two, sure
”
there s n othi n at all happen s i n these parts
L i o n el fro wn ed Th e bright lo ok v an ish ed fro m
his face
Tr u e But y ou ha ve had fi n e weath er
h ar vest will be good
’
Wi d the blessi n of G o d i t wi ll, sir A n s ure
”
that s ame is wanted badly
“
Very badl y Where i s my fath er ?
In
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84
.
KATHLEEN MA VOURNEEN
85
.
’
th e library si r A n s u re it s hi msel f 11 be
glad to get ye back For it s raal lo n esom e he 1 8
”
in this big ho use all by hi msel f
“
I am s u re it i s Pat B e careful of that smal l
”
bo x It s v ery fragile
A n d lea v i n g the serva n t to lo ok a fter his l uggage
L ion el passed on to th e library
M r Dean looked u p with a glad s m ile of wel
co m e as h is son en tered the r o om an d grasp ed h i m
’
In
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Well my boy i t s a pleasu re to see y ou I v e
missed y o u e v ery day a n d o fte n wish e d y ou back
I am s u rprised to h e ar that father I co uld
”
easily ha v e co m e ho me m u ch soo n e r said L ion el
Slow as those potteri n g l awyers are they had
fi n ished e v erythi n g n early a m on th ago B ut y o u
u rged m e stro n gly to stay fo r that ball at th e
”
Carlton s
“
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Of
—
—
co rse of c ou rse I
o ul d h a v e fel t mu ch
an n oyed i f
o
u
n
n
had
t
do
e
so
T
h
e
y
ar
e
p
e
op
l
e
o
y
w o rth c u lti v ati n g
A n d besides it IS good for a
—
you n g man t o go i n to society to see a littl e of li fe
’
H ow e v er n o w that i t s o v er I am glad to get y ou
back H ad y ou a pl easan t j ou rn ey
sh
u
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,
KA THLEEN M AVOURNEEN
86
.
V ery B ut I decl are father he said la ugh
“
ing I was seriou sly an n oyed once or tw ice w ith
those old frien ds of yo u rs M essrs Din gle and
Carter It was m ost prep ostero u s the w ay they
da wdled over that b u si n ess o f o u rs It seem s ab
s u rd t o say it perhaps b u t it str u ck m e sev eral
ti m es that they were slo w on p urpose j u st t o k eep
”
m e ha n gi n g abo u t Lo n do n
M r Dea n lo oked c u rio usly at his son
“
I t is n ot likely they w o u ld care w hether y ou
”
“
stayed in Lon do n or no t he said sharply
A nd
”
fro m m y experie nc e la wyers are a l ways slo w
I dare say Probably i t was their u su al m ethod
B u t it looked odd, o n ce or
o f m a n agi n g b u si n e ss
t wice
“
N o nse n se T hey d id n ot h urry I s uppose A n d
I can t see that it m attered mu ch Yo u r ti me i s n ot
”
precio u s
“
N o I wish it w ere E v ery m an an d woman
—
n
w
m
f
ho
d
ha
v
e
an
objec
in
li
e
so
ethi
g
to
ork
t
ul
s
fo r
s aid L ion el w ith a sigh as he took a cigarette
m
n
n
u
It is poor f try i g to kill ti e
fro m his case
A n d to tell y ou the tr uth father I d rath er do it
”
i n Don egal tha n in L ond o n
”
“
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KAT HLEEN M A VOURNEEN
Y ou
I n deed
“
s urp rise
me
N0 W
.
,
87
.
i n my y o u n g
ye plaise si r said Pat o pen i n g the d oor
”
“
there s a m an wan ts to see ye
”
“
W h o is he ?
“
A stran ger sir H e w o u ldn t tell m e wh o he
w as
It was o n b u si n ess he wanted ye he said an
”
his na me did n t m a tter
”
“
So m e p o or ten an t w a n ti n g help I s uppose
“
said L ion el
Do n t be hard on h i m father
The har v est pro mises w ell
Len d hi m so me
i f he w a n ts i t
till he sa ves h is
m o n ey
”
crops
“
Pray allo w m e to m a n age my o w n affairs
L io n el Y ou have n othi n g to do with these m at
ters at prese n t L eave me n o w I w ill call yo u
”
whe n this m a n has go n e
A ll right B ut I thi n k I ll take a stroll
”
There s so m eo n e I wan t to see a n d he s m iled as
he thou ght o f the w elco m e that a waited h i m at
D un more H ow glad Kathlee n wo u ld b e to see
h im
H ow pleased sh e w o u ld be w ith the
au t u m n roses he had bro ught h er fro m Co ven t
Garden
’2
If
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KAT HLEEN MAVOU RNEEN
88
.
”
I wo uld rather y o u did n ot go far a way said
“
M r Dea n
I ha v e so methi n g o f i mp ortan ce to
”
co m mu n icate to y ou
H ave y ou
an s wered L io n el s u rprised at his
“
father s ster n m an ner
B u t w on t it kee p till to
”
n ight ?
I am a n x io u s to see my fri en ds
“
Y o u m u st p ut o ff y o u r V l sl tS pr ay
I shall
”
wa n t y o u here agai n i n h al f a n ho u r
”
I s hall do as y o u desire o f co u rse B ut
L i on el pau sed a l ook o f vexation on hi s han d
s o m e fa ce
A n d as h e sto od di v ided bet wee n
an
a n xiety to respect his father s w ish es an d
a
lon gi n g to v isit Kathleen at on ce the door
Lion el
Open ed and the stra n ger was u shered i n
started
and stared at h i m i n s u rprise
T he
v isitor was n ot a p oor far mer b u t a big b u rly
m an w eari n g the u n i for m o f th e R oy al Iri sh
Con stab u lary
M r Dea n sign ed to his so n to go ; b ut L ion el
li n gered w o n deri n g w hat w as w ro n g H ad s o m e
cri m e bee n comm itted i n h is absen ce ? Wa s his
father a n xio u s to discover the cri mi n als ? H e
B u t his first words
watched the man breathlessly
reass u red h i m
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‘
KATHLEEN MA VOURNEEN
89
.
“
I hear y ou are loo k i n g for som e n ew ten a n ts
”
M r Dea n the m an said bo wi n g respectfully
“
”
Yes I have several farm s to let at prese n t
L io n el breathed m ore freely A s his father frs
q u en tly told h im he had n othi n g to d o w ith the
m a n age m e n t o f the estate and he t u rn ed to leave
the library when s udd e n ly a n a m e that was eve n
n o w in his m i n d and i n h is heart fell u po n his ear
and arrested his footsteps u po n the threshol d
”
“
B u t the place I ca m e to i n q u ire abo u t
said
“
th e police ma n
is D un m ore We are w illi n g to
pay a good re n t for it as it will s u it ou r p u rp oses
”
exactly
“
D u n m ore is n ot to be let It belo ngs t o
”
M rs B u rke cried L io n el t u rn i n g q u ickly r o u n d
S urely y ou m ea n so me other ho use
“
Pardo n m e sir I m ea n D u n m ore It did b e
lon g to M rs B u r k e b u t si n ce her death
“
H er death
L io n el gre w white to the li ps
”
She is n o t d ead Y o u are drea m i n g m an
No sir T h e poor lady s dead She was b u ried
this day si x weeks ago I thou ght y ou k n e w sir
She s m u ch m o u rn ed i n the co u n try for sh e was
”
al ways goo d t o th e poor G od rest her s o u l
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KAT HLEEN M A VOURNEEN
90
.
L ion el san k i n to a chair by the table a n d b u ryi ng
his face i n h i s ha n ds uttered a lo w m oan o f an g u ish
”
L ea v e u s for a m o m e n t said M r Dean to the
”
policem an
H e is shocked to hear o f this death
”
A n s u re he s n o t the o n ly on e was that repli ed
the man sadly
A n m a n y say it was the n otice
to qu it d i d it Like every other poor Irish wo man
”
be sh e gen tle or si m ple she lo v ed her ho me
”
A n d n ow
Lea ve u s said M r Dea n stern ly
”
L ion el as the m an disappeared
pray do n ot
m ake a fool o f yo u rself M rs B u rke was o n ly a
dista n t relati ve It is n ot n ecessary to m ou rn her
”
so deeply
L ion el raised his head slo wly H is face was
w hite ; there was a look o f horror i n his eyes
I s i t tr u e w hat he said ? Did y o u threate n to
e v ict her fro m her ho m e ?
“
What n on sen se D u n more is my property I
w ished to get a higher ren t fo r it so I told her s h e
B u t before the ti m e ca m e sh e died H er
m u st go
h ea rt says the doctor was weak a n d diseased fo r
”
y ears
Poor sou l H o w happy sh e m u st ha ve bee n to
go to hea v en But
starti n g to his feet an d grasp
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KA THLEEN M AVOURNEEN
92
.
Fro m thi s day I will labor to en force i ts d uties
”
A n d with the help o f God I shall s u cceed
“
U n til my death y o u ha v e n o p o we r u p o n this
”
estate
N0 B ut it i s n ot o n ly here w hich is after all
b u t a s m all corn er o f the w orld b u t all o v er th e
co u n try that cha n ges m u st be made E v ery where
throu ghou t Irelan d the righ ts of the ten ant th e
”
d uties of the la n dlord hav e been n eglected
”
“
A n d h ow m ay I ask said M r Dean with a
sn eer do y ou p rop ose t o remedy the ev il ? H o w
are y ou goi n g to change a state of thi n gs that has
existed for cen t u ries
“
O f m ysel f I co u ld do little
Bu t I ha v e re
sol ved to j oi n a ban d o f earn est m en a n x iou s to
pro m ote the w el fare o f their un happy cou n try m e n
W hilst in L o n do n they asked m e to stan d for Par
I refu s ed B ut I
li amen t at the n ex t election
a m n ow deter m i n ed to o ffer m ys el f as a candi d ate
and i f I a m ret u rned I sh all do al l I ca n to i m
pro v e the laws Fro m this day father, I espo u se
the cau se of the m ost d o wn trodd e n creat ure on
”
ea rth , the I rish ten an t
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C HA PT ER
'
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e xt m orm ng L io n el ate his brea k fast a l on e
H is father a n d h e had had a n gry w ords the n ight
be fore The old m an was an n oyed at his son s n ew
fan gled n otion s a n d i n dig n an t that he sho u ld dare
to fi n d fa ul t w ith h i m as to th e m an n er i n w hich
he m an aged his estate H e was m aster a n d he
w o u ld allo w n o o n e to i n ter fere w ith a n ythi n g h e
m ight choose to d o
U p to this L io n el had gi v e n
H e h ad al ways see m ed i n d iffer
h i m little tro u ble
en t u po n the s ubj ect a n d s o lo n g as he wa s per
mi tted to ride fish and shoot he rarely i n qu ired
i n to the ten an ts affairs B ut Kathlee n s earn est
n ess her te n der pleadi n gs and e n treaties had been
doing their w ork tho u gh he k n e w it n ot So me
thi n g o f the yo u n g girl s fire had e n tered his heart
A feelin g that the people o n th e estate were badly
T he
treated h ad grown u p slo wly i n his m i n d
T
HE n
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93
KATHLEEN M AVOURNEEN
94
.
b urn i n g o f Pat O Con n or s b u t had ro u sed h i s i h
dig n ation a n d m ade h i m thi n k deeply A n d n o w
this s udde n capricio u s e v iction o f h i s friends from
their ho me r e m o v ed all li n geri n g do u bt, and he
saw clearly h o w evil was the syste m by which the
people o f Irela n d were oppressed I n L o n do n he
had met men a n x io us to alter the la w to gi ve rights
to the ten an ts as well as to the lan dlord s Kat h
lee n s o ft repeated prayer that he sho u ld do good
that he sho u ld n ot spe n d his li fe e n tirely i n search
o f a m u se m e n t ca m e i n to h i s m i n d an d he al m ost
con sen ted to h elp them i n their n oble work B ut
so m ethi n g held h i m back It was n o t see mly or
beco m i n g that he the son o f a lan dlord sho u ld joi n
in this cry agai n st his class that was m aki n g itsel f
heard thro ughou t the len gth a n d breadth o f the
lan d H is father w o u ld n ot like it a n d he felt
bou n d to st udy his wishes i n this as i n ev erythi n g
else So he begged the m n ot to press h i m fu rther
a n d ret u rn ed to Do n egal resolved that i f he co ul d
n o t take acti v e steps i n their favor he wo u ld at least
u rge his father to be less harsh a n d tyra n n ical in his
B u t this nu ex
fu t u re deali n gs w ith the people
—
blo
M
rs B u rke s threaten ed e v ictio n , h e r
t
d
e
c
e
w
p
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KATH LEEN M AVOURNEEN
95
.
death an d Kathleen s depart u re fro m th e co u n try
bro ught m atters to a crisis a n d L io n el was filled
H o w bli n d he had
w ith anger re m orse a n d pity
bee n H o w selfish a n d u n reaso n i n g Fro m t h at
ho u r his li fe sho u ld be cha n ged H e w o u ld w ork
n ig h t a n d day to i m prove the co n ditio n o f the poor
ten a n ts The harm that had been do n e co u ld n ot
alas be u n don e Those wh o had been cast o u t o f
their ho mes and h ad died o f starva tion or go n e
to A merica cou ld n ot be recalled B u t for thos e
wh o re mained n ew la ws sho u ld be m ade— la ws
that wo uld en able the m to stay i n their cabi n s or
i f obliged to leave secu re them co m pe n satio n fo r
th e i mpro v e m en ts they m ight have e ffected
H is
father s co n d u c t had sho cked h i m ; a n d he felt that
it had absolved h i m fro m a ny ten dern ess or con
sid eratio n fo r his feeli n gs H is hars h cr u elty le ft
h i m free to j oi n the n a tio n al m ove m en t i f he ch o se
A s L io n el explai n ed thi n gs in this w ay Mr
Dea n grew m ore a n d m ore fu rio u s ; an d at last;
a ngered beyon d w ords he left the library d eclar
i n g that his son m u s t be m ad an d that u n til he
ch an ged h is m i n d an d retu r n ed to ideas m ore
w orthy o f a man of h is birth and ed u catio n he
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KAT HLEEN M AVOURNEEN
96
.
hold n o fu rther com m u n ication w ith hi m
H e m ight stay at the W ood H o u se i f he pleased ;
b u t al l frie n dly i n terco u rse betw ee n the m m u st be
at a n end u n less L io n el wo u ld u n say his cr u el
w ords a n d apologize fo r the w ild speeches he had
H e then sh u t the door w ith a ban g that
ma de
shook the ho use and L io n el was left alone
When th e di n n er ho u r ca m e ro u n d M r Dea n did
n g eate n b u t
ha
v
i
n ot a pear a n d the yo u n g m a n
p
little o f the good thi n gs that were placed befor e
h i m retired to h is roo mw ith a d u ll achi n g pai n at
his heart H ere he sat far i n to the n i ght ponder
i n g deeply over the stra n ge posi tio n i n w hich he
—
A t wa r with his father ready
n o w fo u n d hi m sel f
to ru sh i n to a stru ggle w hich wo u ld cost h i m m u ch
tro u ble worry a n d an n oya n ce ; alie n ate his frien ds
a n d m ake his ho m e u n co m fortable
“
A n d w h y ? What shall I gai n by s u ch a co m
”
“
bat ? he cried
Wh y sho u ld I tor men t m ysel f ?
W h y n ot lea v e this disagreeable task to others
O h Kathleen my heart fails m e I f y ou w ere
o n ly here to enco u rage m e If I had b ut yo u r
—
faith yo u r stro n g belief that to do so m e thi n g b e
ca use we k n o w i t to be right an d good n o matter
w o uld
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KATHLEEN M AVOURNEEN
97
.
it costs u s will please God and bri n g H is
—
blessi n g u pon our work then I m ight go on with
a clear co n scien ce an d a fi rm will B u t alas y o u
are a way I ha v e n o on e to help me M y whole
n at u re cries ou t agai n st the step I a m abo u t to take
—
—
B u t yo u r wro n gs yo u r m other s death yo u r ev i c
—
tio n fro m y o u r ho me p u shes me for ward sho ws
me the i n i qu ity o f o u r la ws o u r cr u elty to wards
So fo r yo u r sake I go o n
o u r u n happy ten a n ts
A n d with the hel p o f God I shall acco mplish so m e
thi n g good
Then at last tired an d weary h e wen t to bed an d
fell asleep
B u t his rest was broken a n d tro u bl ed
The tho u ght o f Kathleen m otherless a n d ho m eless
ha u nted h i m an d i n h i s drea m s he sa w her poor a n d
forsaken her face wo r n a n d pi n ched her bea u ti fu l
eyes d i m w ith m u ch w eepi n g H e tried to speak to
her to co n sole her b ut she fled fro m h i m a n d
he a w oke w ith a cry A fter that he cou ld sleep no
m ore a n d l ay tossi n g feveri shly fro m side to side
lo n gi n g for the da wn o f d ay
A s th e s u n rose L ion el got u p u n refreshed n u
certai n as to h is futu re li fe and v ery sad at heart
H e dressed qu ickly and ate a hasty break fast Then
what
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KATHLEEN M AVOURNEEN
98
.
lea v i ng a message that he w ou ld n o t be back u n til th e
e v e n i n g started off for a lon g walk across the hills
H i gh u p th e m o u ntain road he w en t e n co u n ter
i n g on the way several st u rdy farm ers w h o looked
at h i m in aston ish m en t wo n deri n g as they sal u ted
h i m respectfu lly wh y the yo u n g m ast e r was o ut so
ea rly an d wh y he looked so sad
”
“
There i s goi n g to be a fair t o day at Gl en t
tho ught L ion el as stan di n g i n the m idst of the
r u de fa n tastic hills he gazed do w n u po n the le vel
san ds and the little chapel that lay belo w i n th e
v alley I n a ge n eral way th e cou n try h ad a lo n ely
deserted look b u t n ow the san ds w ere pop u lo us
M en and w o m en w ere troopi n g o v er the gliste n
i n g shore ; horses witho u t riders ; m ares with ro ugh
coats an d li v ely foals ; s mall m o u n tai n ki n e ; sheep
w ith so ft eyes and stu pid faces ; obsti n ate inde
pen de n t pigs ca u tio u sly u rged o n i n the right path
by th eir o wn ers ; yo u n g m en and m aiden s in their
clean est attire are cro wd i n g alon g all hoping fo r
good l u ck an d high pri ces for the v ario us an im als
th ey hav e to dispose o f
”
“
Poor sou ls sighed L io n el
I tru st y ou m ay
hav e a su ccess fu l day Y ou will requ l re all the
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KATHLEEN M A VOURNEEN
1 00
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path his eyes fall u pon L ion el a n d his ki n d ly
face i n stan tly ass u mes an expressio n o f stern dis
pleas u re H e bows coldly a n d b utto n i n g his coat
w ith a n i m patien t m ovem e n t passes qu ickly by
”
Father L a v en s cr i es Lion el starti n g for ward
”
Pray stay fo r a m o men t
The priest stopped an d looked at him i n qu iri ngly
ro w
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Y ou
ca n
me
tell
.
I
am
s u re y ou kn ow Wh ere
.
is Kathlee n
What is h e r add ress ?
That I a m not at liberty to tell A n d after the
man n er l n which y ou and yo u r father ha v e treated
the poor child a n d her m other tis better yo u sho u ld
”
n ever m eet agai n
“
B u t I wa s a way
I k n e w n othi n g of what was
”
“
goi n g o n exclai m ed L ion el qu ickly
Kathleen
”
co uld ha v e told y o u that
”
“
She did replied the priest so ften i n g a little
“
She had
b ut I tho u ght sh e had been decei v ed
k n own y ou as a frie n d a n d tha t to a war m lo v i n g
She wo u ld n e ver
n at u re like hers w a s e n o u gh
”
do ubt or s u spect y ou o f doi n g w ro n g
O f co u rse
.
”
B u t where
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KAT HLEEN M A VOURNEEN
1 01
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“
N or had sh e a n y cau se to do so I was se n t
fro m ho m e o n b u si n ess an d I w e n t w ith o u t th e
fai n test idea that M rs B u rke a n d her d a ughter
w ere to recei v e n otice to lea v e their ho m e
They
w ere my best I m ay s ay m y o n ly frl en d s for m y
a ffectio n fo r others is as n othi n g co m pared w ith
—
f
f
m
M y father s cr u elty the
what I eel or the
—
i
m
u nj u st wa
h
hich
h
treated
the
has
n
e
a
s
w
y
ope n ed my eyes to m an y thi n gs Fro m this ho u r
Father Lav e n s I intend to de v ote my li fe my
”
en ergies to d oi n g good to o u r people
The priest s eyes shon e with happ l n ess and tears
spra n g to his eyes
”
“
God bless y ou he cried graspi n g th e yo u n g
m a n s hand and pressi n g it w ar m ly
S u re yo u ll
lan dlord h ere so m e day a n d e v en before that yo u ll
have m u ch i n yo u r po w er It s s p len did to hear
u ll bri n g happi n ess to
u sa
those
ords
Yo
o
w
y
y
”
m an y a poor cottage
I a m afraid I shall n ot be able to do so i n th e
M y father will brook n o i n ter
way y o u m ea n
B u t I i n te n d to w ork hard i n a n ot h er
feren ce
I hav e determ i n ed to en ter Parlia m en t, an d
way
”
fight for th e rights of the p oor Irish te n a n ts
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KA T HLEEN MAVOU RNEEN
1 02
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What ' cried Fath er L a v en s li fti ng u p his
han ds i n aston ish m en t
Yo u the son of a la n d
lord I can n ot belie v e that y ou w ill dare to do
s u ch a thi n g That y o u will work n ight a nd day
to pass a land act that w ill i mpoverish yo u r frien ds
O h it is i m possi ble Y o u w ill n ever hav e cou rage to
”
d o it
It i s agai n st all the tradition s of yo u r race
“
Nev ertheless it shall be done It is a great
”
work an d s u rely one y ou m u st appro v e o f
I ? My dear s i r the thou ght b ri n gs j oy to my
heart and I can hardly believe my sen ses God
alon e co u ld hav e wrou ght this s u dde n chan ge i n
h
n d I m ar v el at it
A
o w it has
ondering
o
u
w
y
been brou ght abou t A h n o w I kn o w It has
”
been won fo r y ou by p rayer
”
By pray er ?
“
Yes By the fer ven t prayers of an i n n ocen t
child wh o tru sti n g i n yo u r good n ess has all her
li fe l o oked u pon y o u as the possible savio u r of o u r
”
u n h appy peopl e
I speak o f Kathleen B u rke
Y o u a re right
Kathlee n s i n fl ue n ce has bee n
at w ork She is a n angel Father L aven s a n d a n y
good that is i n m e is d ue to her an d h er s weet
”
u n selfis h exa m ple
”
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KATHLEEN MAVOURNEEN
1 04
Her tro ubles are I tr u st practically at an en d
”
I lo v e her a n d hope to w in her as m y wi fe
”
“
Y o u are a Protesta n t
“
Yes B u t I lo v e a n d re v eren ce the Catholic
religio n Wh o could fai l to do so k n o w in g Kath
”
l een as I do
“
That is not en o ugh T o m ake the child th o r
o ughly happy y ou sho u ld be a Catholic I k n o w
w hat y ou w o uld say m ixed m arriages are freq u en t
es p ecially 1 n E n glan d B u t to my m i n d they are
m u ch to be deplored
R elig i on rel i g i o u s feeli n g
shou ld be the key n ote of e very happy ho u sehold
H o w can that be or h o w can per fect u n ity exist
w here h usba n d a n d wi fe are di v ided u pon this m ost
i mportan t this m ost v ital s u bjec t ?
I agree w ith y ou u p to a certain poi n t b u t n ot
en tirely H o we v e r will y ou n ot leav e it to Kath
l een to decide ?
“
Yes I thi n k I may safely Yet
”
Y o u spoke j u st n o w o f the po wer o f prayer
“
Prayer has do n e m u ch for m e
u rged L io n el
T hen wh y sho u ld it n ot do m ore ?
”
“
Wi th God all thi n gs are possible said th e
“
priest reveren tly
Y o u ha v e a n oble n atu re I n
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KATHLEEN M AVOURNEEN
1 05
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perhaps H e m ay gran t y o u this great gi ft o f
‘
fai th ; m ea n while Du lce et d ecoru m est p ro p a tri a
'
—
o
i
m r
Tis s weet glorio u s a n d ho n orable to die
fo r o n e s co u n try
says H orace Y o u shall n ot
be asked to die b u t i f by yo u r labors y o u help to
lighte n the load born e by these poor peasan ts God
will bless y o u ; an d y o u w ill feel h o w s weet a n d
hon orable i t is to do H is w ork Co m e to my
hou se this a ftern o on , an d I will gi v e y ou Kath
”
leen s add ress
t1 me,
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CHAPTER
' I
.
days pass e d o ver pleasa n tly en o ug h i n th e
attic roo ms i n Ca m let S qu are ; a n d w hen Kathlee n
s u dden ly disco v ered that sh e had bee n a week i n
L on do n sh e was a m azed H er heart was still sad
a n d at ti m es sh e felt terribly lo n ely an d deserted
The n the so u n d o f Jacky s voice ra i sed i n q u er u lo us
altercatio n with o n e o f the ser va n ts wo u ld startle
her and in her an xiety to soothe a n d paci fy h i m
sh e w ou ld try to ass u m e a cheerful n ess she did n ot
possess These u n selfish efforts i n va riably bro ught
their reward for in ro u si n g hersel f to a m u se her
co u sin sh e distracted her m i n d and for the ti me
bei n g escaped fro m the world of her o wn sad
tho ughts
For som e reason u n k n o wn to Jacky and the ser
v an ts M r a n d M rs Sel wo od an d their da ughters
still li n gered i n B righton
T
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1 06
KA T H L EE N
1 08
M AVOURN EE N
.
to p ut these tho ughts o u t o f yo u r head It is wron g
to brood o ver the m T hey m ake yo u discontent ed
”
an ' u nhappy
Jacky sighed
“
I d are say Bu t h o w can I be anythi n g else ?
It is sad to be a cripple and ha v e no one to lo v e
”
yo u
“
Yes dear v ery sad i f it were tru e B ut i n
yo u r case J acky I cannot belie v e that it is Yo u
are a cripple b u t yo u ha v e a m other, father and
sisters
But I tell yo u they do not lo v e m e T hey
”
T hen it m u st be yo u r o wn fa u lt
Jacky opened his eyes v ery w ide and stared at h e r
”
“
My fa ult ?
“
Yes yo u rs L isten Jacky since I arri ved yo u
hav e al ways been telling m e abo u t yo u r sisters short
co mings and n e v er abo u t yo u r o w n and yet I feel
—
that w ith the m yo u m u st forgi v e m e i f I speak
—
l
p ainly yo u are cross and r ude e v er on the lo o k
o u t fo r slights and ready to s u spect them o f bei n g
”
u nkind to yo u
So they are u nkind and ill nat u red Yo u don t
”
—
kno w the m all frills and airs and affecta tion
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K AT H L E E N
“
MAVOUR N EE N
1 09
.
’
I don t kno w the m B u t I kno w yo u J acky
—
and fro m what I ha v e seen b u t perhaps I had
”
better say no m ore ?
“
Go o n
I kno w what yo u ll say Yo u ll
tell m e I am an i l l te mpered and disagreeab le
boy
“
N ot qu ite dea r b u t I will say that yo u do
not take pains eno ugh to be a mi abl e with yo u r
”
m other and siste r
Why sho u ld I ? T hey re a j olly sight too u n
”
kind to me Rose al way s says so
T hen R ose is very wrong A nd e v en were she
right that is no exc u se fo r yo u W e m u st ret u rn
”
good for e v il re m e mber
”
“
“
I m not a saint gr u mble d J acky
I f peopl e
don t lo v e m e I can t lo v e the m
“
Yet o u r L ord tells u s to lo v e o u r ene m i es
Yes Bu t it s a terribly hard thing to do Per
—
—
haps i f I hadn t so m u ch to bea r i f i f I wasn t a
”
w retched cri p ple I m ight not m i nd
”
“
Poor little boy said K athleen laying her han d
“
yo u exaggerate
affectionatel y u pon his c u rly head
yo u r la meness which is after all v ery slight Yo u
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K A T HLEEN M A VOURNEEN
1 10
.
“
Yes Now I can , b u t fo r years I l ay on my
back I think people were kinder then M other
w as fo r she u sed to be m ore with me and the girl s
”
w e re not so st u ck u p and silly
“
I dare say yo u were m ore easily managed i n
those d ays
A n d n o w J acky yo u m u st try t o be
m ore patient
God has gi v en yo u this cross to
bear and bear it yo u m u st I f yo u do so h u m bly
wit h patience and resignation it w ill pro v e a bless
‘
ing to yo u R e m e m ber the words o f the I m ita
‘
tion that we read last nigh t ' I f tho u carry the
cross w illingly it will carry thee a nd bring thee to
thy d esi red end If tho u carry it u n willi n gly tho u
m akest it a b u rden to thysel f an d l oad est th y sel i
the m ore and ne v ertheless tho u m u st bear it
”
—
It is dread fu lly hard that d read fu lly
“
N o dear I do n t think yo u wi ll fi n d i t so, i f
”
yo u are patient
“
Bu t h o w am I to get p atience ? I can t say
lon g prayers and
Yo u need n ot say l ong prayers E v ery m or ni n g
offer yo u rsel f to God and fo r the sake of our dear
L ord W ho s u ffered so m u ch for u s prom ise to bear
”
yo u r cross an d any t rou bles that it m ay cau se y ou
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KATH LEEN M A VOURNEEN
1 12
.
poo r master Jacky is kindness is o f more val u e than
”
gold
M ean while K at h leen and he r g u ide th readed
their w ay care fu lly thro u gh the streets
Jacky
co u ld not walk v ery fast ; b u t as the bu s took
t he m o v er the m ost c r o wded pa r t and set the m
d o w n at the entran ce to Hyde Pa rk w hich is a
short distance from the ch u rch they had taken their
places in front o f the altar befo re th e p riest ca me
o u t to say m ass
”
“
K athleen sai d Jacky as they walked back
thro u gh the m e ws in which stan d s the bea u ti fu l
“
H o w fer
Ch u rch o f the I m m acu late Conception
Yo u see med absorbed the whole
v en tly yo u pray
”
ti m e o f m ass
T he girl t u rned her earnest eyes shining wi th a
strong lo v i n g faith fu ll u pon his face
I ha v e so m u ch to pray fo r Jacky So many
”
graces to ask o f o u r blessed L ord
“
A nd yo u really think peo ple get thin gs they
pray for ?
“
I h a v e great belie f in the p o wer o f prayer dear
tho u gh God does not al ways gi v e u s J ust wh at we
ask for T here is one grace one all i mp orta n t
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KATHLEEN MAVOURN EEN
1 13
.
grace that I ha v e prayed fo r Jacky for a person
I lo v e and ha v e lo v ed since I was a child It has
not been granted yet ; b u t I feel s u re it will be
sooner or l ater So me d ay Go d will listen to my
—
prayers I kno w I feel
“
”
—
A nd and s u pposing Jacky hes i tated and a
deep fl u sh dyed h is pale cheek
”
Well dear what is it ?
“
—
S upp osing I w ere to ask God to to make me
able to w al k witho u t crutches wo u l d H e hea r my
”
pray ers ?
K athlee n slipped her h and within his a rm
and
l o oked do wn u pon h i m with tender co m
passion
“
For e verything we want b u t especially s u ch
things as that Jacky we m u st pray s u bj ect to the
”
“
she said gently
Yo u r la meness i s
w ill o f G o d
a se v ere trial ; b u t it m ay be for yo u r good A nd
—
it is better more perfect to bear it patiently than
to ask to ha v e It rem o v ed God is all po wer ful
and co u ld m ake yo u stro n g and able to w alk like
others B ut a fter all dear that is a s mall m atter
co mpared w ith graces fo r o u r so u ls I f we a re
m eek a n d h u m ble o f heart it m atters little h o w we
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KAT HLEEN M A VOURNEEN
1 14
.
or look Pray then fo r patience ; accepting
willingly yo u r cross and y o u will soon recei ve a n
”
ans wer to yo u r prayers
Jacky w as disappointed A s he had told K ath
”
lee n he was only a sor t o f a Catholic and it was
qu ite n ew to h i m that goodness and p u rity o f h eart
w ere o f m ore i m portance than physical strength and
beau ty The son of a w orldly m other acc u sto m ed
to h earing his acqu aintances praised or d esp l sed,
according to the a mo u nt o f good looks they pos
sessed he had beco me e mbittered regarding his
la m eness as the ca u se o f all his w oes His greatest
w is h was to be straight and stro n g like other boys
that he sa w aro u nd h i m ; a n d the th o ugh t that he
ne ver c ou ld be so fi lled h i m w ith rage and m ade
h i m ill te m pered and qu ar relso me
K athlee n s gen
tl en ess and s weet resignatio n the u nco m plaining
manner l n which she had take n his m other s u nkind
neglect s u rprised h i m and he began to wonder wh y
she was s o di fferent fro m h i m and his sisters E v ery
day since her arri v al in London as he knel t beside
her at m ass he had w atched her closely and seeing
h o w fer v ently she prayed h o w peace fu l the expres
s ion o f her bea u ti fu l face as sh e beca m e absorbed in
w alk
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KATHLEEN MAVOURNEEN
1 16
.
’
A s they went thro u gh the park the boy s steps
began to flag he walked slo wly and with more
diffi cu lty than u s u al
”
“
Sit do w n Jacky yo u are tired said K ath
l een stop p m g near a seat u nder a w ide shady tree
T his is a qu iet p lace W e can rest he re for a
”
while
Jacky sat down witho ut a w ord an d laying his
cr u tches aside he bent for ward and co ve ri ng his
face w it h his hands he b u rst into tears
K athleen l aid h er h and ca ressingly u pon his
b ow ed head
”
“
“
M y p oo r boy sh e wh i s p e red yo u m u st n ot
”
w e ep
“
Mu st not ' O h K athleen h ow can I hel p it ?
”
Think h ow u n happy I a m
“
I kno w that yo u m ake yo ursel f u nhappy a n d
I a m grie v ed that yo u shou l d do so I do n o t like
to be al ways preaching Jacky b u t yo u m u st not
A ccept
fight so persistently against yo u r tro u bles
ch eerfu lly the cross that has fallen to yo u r lot Pra v
hard for grace to bear it well and the pea ce o f Christ
w hich s u rpass es all u n d e rstanding wil l co me up o n
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KATHLEEN M AVOUR N EE N
117
.
The girl spoke earnestly H er s weet v oice shook
w ith e m otion and h er eyes were fu ll of lo v e and
tenderness
Jacky raised his head and looked at her for a
m o m ent
T h en se1 z1 n g he r hand h e clasped it
tightly within his o wn
For the second ti me this mo rn i ng I say that
”
“
I will try to be patient his lips tre mbled and
try to bear my cross Bu t K athleen yo u m u st
pray for m e and help m e and yo u m u st n ot be dis
”
a p om ted i f I break do wn m a ny ti mes
p
—
Certainly not nor m u st yo u be disco u raged
dear ; that yo u sho ul d do so i s only nat ural and I
w ill pray for y ou night and day and pleas e God
”
yo u w ill soon be a happy little boy
T h en b end
i ng, sh e k i ss e d h i m on th e fo re h ead
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E R ' II
CHA PT
.
next d ay M r and M rs Sel wo od an d thei r
t wo h andso m e fashiona ble da u ghters ret u r n ed fro m
B righton Soon a fte r their arri v al K athleen was
sent fo r ; and feeling som e what n er v o u s and ag i
tated the girl descended fro m her li ttle roo m in
th e a ttic a n d entered h er a u nt s elegantly fu r n i shed
b ou doir
M rs S el wood s m anner was not absol u tely u n
ki nd bu t there was neithe r warmth nor affection in
h er greeting
”
“
?
H
G wen and L i na said '
o w do yo u do
in a
cold indi fferent tone o f v oice as t h ey presented the
s ide o f their cheeks to be kissed
T hen sinking
back in their a rm chairs they looked he r u p and
do w n w ith a cool s u perci l io u s stare which was any
thing b u t reass u ring to poo r shy l ittle K athlee n
T HE
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118
.
KATH LEE N M AVOURN EE N
1 20
.
—
few girls l ike the second M iss Sel wood that i s in
”
her o wn esti mation Bu t looking hard at K ath
“
leen it is a bs u rd to say that y o u hav e a high color
”
Yo u are as w hite as a lily
Yo u m u st be color blind Gw en ; b u t of co urse
”
yo u al ways cont radict m e She i s scarlet
N o wond er A ny one w o u ld bl u sh w ith yo u star
—
ing at them as yo u are doing that is anyone wh o
”
—
co u ld bl u sh to yo u that has lo n g bee n a lost art
A nd h a vm g ad m i n i stered this parting shot G wen rose
fro m her chair and sailed grace fu lly o u t o f the roo m
”
“
“
S u ch i mpertinence ' cried L ina
A s if any
one b u t a co u ntry b u mpki n e v er atte mpted to
bl u sh M other I ll be 1 n m y roo m w hen y o u
A nd witho u t taking an y fu rther n otice
w ant m e
sh e too s wep t across the fl oor a n d
o f K athleen
disappeared
K ath leen felt mu ch relie v ed at their depart u re
It was u npleasant to be disc u ssed and critici zed so
openly ; and the w rangling tone in w hich the siste rs
spoke to each other w as extre mely pain fu l '
Poor Jacky N o wonder he fi nds i t hard to get
”
on w ith the m she thou ght
H is accou nt of the m
”
is I fear only too tr u e
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KATHLEEN M AVOURN EE N
1 21
.
”
“
A nd n o w said M rs Sel wood b reaking in u pon
the girl s re v erie yo u m u st try to get acc u sto med
to o u r t ow n ways I d o not kno w what sort o f a
li fe yo u led in Irelan d fo r I had b u t little co m
m u n i cati o n w ith my sister since her m arriage
I
a m a fraid w e shall ha v e to lea v e yo u a great deal to
yo u rsel f T he girls and I go o u t so m u ch that we
shall see yo u v ery sel do m I a m looki n g for a
go v erness for Jacky ho we v e r and she w ill be a
co mpanion for yo u T hat is i f I can get one wh o
Bu t really that boy is so tro u bleso m e
w il l stay
that no one can m anage h im H e is the torment o f
”
my li fe
”
“
“
Au nt said K ath l een eagerly
let me be
Jacky s go v erness I a m anxio u s to do so m e
thi n g
co u ld not li v e here in idleness ; and I
”
thi n k I co uld m anage h i m
“
Yo u ? My dear yo u do not know what yo u
”
are talking abo u t H e i s m ost tireso m e
“
N o h e is not T hat is I think he likes m e
L et me try ; and i f I do n ot s u cceed yo u can get
”
so meone else
W ell I see no h arm in that ; b u t I do not care
m u ch fo r the idea of my niece acti n g as go verness
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1 22
KAT HLEEN MAVOURN EEN
.
It m ight l ook bad
Peop l e wo u ld be s u r e to
”
talk
K ath leen s miled brightly
N 0 one kno ws m e a u nt A n d i f they did what
wo u ld i t m atter ? T here is n o disgrace in a girl
teachi n g her little co u sin
u
ite
the
contrary
'
A nd i f I am no t allo wed to teach Jacky I shall
”
ha v e to look o u t for anoth e r p u pi l
”
“
W ell I think yo u may try Jacky said M rs
S el wood tho ught fu lly
It m igh t not be a bad
thi n g A n d as yo u say no one kno ws yo u W e
n e ed not m ention th e r elationship o u tside the ho u se
”
I m u st ca u tion R ose and the other serv ants
”
“
Ju st as yo u please ans we red K ath l een , coldly ;
I shall ne v er m ention it
N o o f co u rse n ot I w ill p ay yo u thirty p o u nds
His
a year and yo u and J ack y can li v e u p sta irs
S i tting roo m has al ways been u sed as a schoo l r oo m
W il l that satis fy yo u
”
“
n
u
ite
Good
m
orni
g
M
r
s
Sel
ood
A
nd
w
'
wi th a digni fi ed bend o f her pretty head K ath l een
rose and left the bo udoi r
So m u ch to J acky s del ight K ath leen was i n
stalled as his go verness ; and they settled do wn to
‘
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KATHLEEN M AVOURNEEN
1 24
.
learn i ng grad u ally to feel that in so me my s
teri o u s way they were for his good
A nd so fro m
follo wing K athleen s exa mple and p ractising the
v irt u es she inc u lcated he n o w accepted wit h resi
g
nation as coml n g fro m the hand of God the m any
disagreeable inciden ts to w hich he was exposed
T his gav e h i m a happi n ess that he had ne v e r
kno wn befo re and v ery soon it sho wed itsel f in
his who le person i n th e to u ch of his han d in th e
sou n d o f his v oice
T hi s change in her s on ga ve great pleas u re to
M rs Sel wood for in s p ite of her e v ident worldli
ness she really lo ved the boy In the old days h e
had worried and tor mented her and sh e had kept
h im o u t o f sight as m u ch as possible
Bu t n ow
she delighted in his society and from dreading h i s
app earan ce in he r bo u doir she began to look for
w a r d to the ho u r b efore dinner spent ther e with
h im and K ath l ee n as th e pleasantest part of th e
day
”
“
That l ittl e I rish n i ece of mi n e is a t reas u re
“
she wo u ld say
I think she m u st possess som e
m agic skill
Sh e has wo rk ed u p o n Jacky l ik e a
”
charm
wa s
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CHAPTE R
'
III
.
DURI NG this ti m e, in w hich K ath l een was wo rk
’
ing so s u ccess fu lly w ith her little cou sin the girl s
heart was fu ll o f a sorro w that was all her o wn
She ne ver mu r mu red or co mpl ained But in the
m idst o f these cold m annered strangers i n the whirl
and b u stle o f the great city she pined for the sight
fo r the peace fu l stillness o f the wild
o f a friend
yet pict u resqu e co u ntry in which sh e had passed so
m any happy yea rs
O ne m orning abo u t s i x weeks a fter he r arri v al
in L on don she recei v ed a letter fro m Father L av ens
and the sight o f his writing and th e Donegal post
m ark bro u ght tears to her eyes and j oy to her heart
Bu t he told her little she wanted to kno w M erely
m entioned that L ionel had co m e h o m e and nothing
T his was b ut scan t in fo rm at i on , and as she
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1 26
KAT HLEEN M AVOURNEEN
1 28
A cco r din gly,
.
a hanso m was called and aw ay they
It w as a bea u ti fu l day
went to T ra falgar S qu are
in Septe mber The streets w ere fu ll o f gayly dressed
people so m e w alking so m e dri v ing ; a n d as K ath
leen looked o u t on the b u sy throng she felt inter
and for the ti m e forgot her
es ted and a m u sed
disappoint ment o f the m orning
L ook at these R o m neys and Gainsboro u ghs
”
K athleen cried Jacky enth u siastically as they
strolled thro ugh the gallery ; and these angels
heads by Sir J osh u a R eynolds A re they not
l o v ely
“
V ery dear Bu t h o w w ell yo u seem to kno w
”
the m all re m arked his co u si n looking in s u rprise
“
at the boy s ani mated co u ntenance
I had no idea
”
u w ere so fond o f pict u res
o
y
I lo ve them T hey al ways m ake m e feel happy
A nd shall I tell yo u a secret K athleen
”
Yes d ear W hat is it ?
”
T he greatest w ish o f my li fe is to be an artist
”
I a m glad It m u st be a delight fu l pro fession
“
I sho u ld j u st th ink so A nd then w hen I a m
gro w n u p and ha v e st u died a lot yo u and I will go
to Donegal and I l l p aint al l M ick Doolan s chil
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M A VOURN EEN
K AT HLEEN
1 29
.
dren and those fu nny old wo men yo u ha v e told m e
”
abo u t
K athleen l au ghed merrily
“
T hat w ill be great fun I fancy I s ee their
”
“
Bu t sig hi n g yo u a re only ten Jacky it
faces
w il l be fi fteen years p erh aps befo re y o u a re a n
artis t T h at length o f ti me w ill m ake a terrible
My frie n ds w ill be all gone perhaps by
c hange
then T he c hildren g ro w n u p the o l d people d ead
or e v icted E v e n t wo y ears wo u ld m ake a g rea t
”
d i fference in Donegal
“
T r u e I forgo t h o w u nc ertain li fe is fo r the
poor people there Bu t do y o u know K athleen
I so m et i mes feel that I positi v ely l o v e th at hard
”
hearted landlord M r Dea n
”
“
Jacky ?
“
Yes ; I do tr u ly For r em ember had it n ot
”
been for h i m I sho u ld n e v er ha ve kno wn yo u
”
It s a n ill wind that blows nobody good said
“
K athleen la u ghing ; and I a m glad p oor M r Dean
”
h as secu red one frien d at least
“
I t s m o re tha n he des er v es
H o we v er I don t
s u ppose he wo uld be u nd u ly elated i f he we re told
o f my a ffection
Bu t l ook here K athleen here s a
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KATHLEEN M AVOUR N EEN
30
.
pict u re by an Irish man M acli se Isn t i t fi n e ? It s
”
the play scene in H a m let
“
Yes I t is bea u ti fu lly gro u ped a n d the color
1 s v ery good
1n
m
H
a
let
s
f
ace
is
onder
l
H
f
u
o
w
w
g
anxiou s and exci ted he looks A nd the king and
”
qu een ' W hat a g u ilty look is in their eyes
“
Yes It is splendidly d one B u t there s a
‘
jolly l ittle pict u re Happy as a K ing I want to
sho w yo u I can t think where they ha v e h u ng it
Its position has been changed Co me and l et u s
”
look abo u t for it
T hey w andered on hand i n hand th ro ugh the
stopping e v ery m o m ent to ad mire
v ario u s roo m s
T o K athl ee n they w ere
s o m e m asterpiece o f art
Bu t to J acky they w ere well kno wn and
al l n ew
m u ch lo v ed treas u res
”
O h J acky h ow lo vely this is she cried sink
ing do w n u pon a chair in front o f Fran cia s to u ch
”
i n g pict u re of the Dead Christ
”
“
“
Yes he ans wered b u t I w ish I co u ld fi n d
the little painting I w ant Yo u stay here and I ll
”
ha ve a look for i t
A nd w itho u t waiting for a
reply he w ent a way his cru tches m aki n g a lo u d
noise as he h u rried a long o v er the polished fl oor
‘
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CHAPTE R
' IV
.
K ath leen sat i n th e big gall ery a l one her
hands clasped her e v es fi xed u po n the bea u ti fu l
p a inting that had m o v ed he r so d eeply a yo u ng
man sa u ntered leis u rely ro u nd looking fi rst at the
pict u res and then at a catalog u e which he carried
Bu t it was e v ident fro m his whole
i n his hand
de meanor, that he was little interested i n what he
H is m ind was preocc u pied H e looked tired
sa w
and weary and there was an exp ression o f dis
app o m tm en t in his handso m e fa ce
”
“
W hat a w ilderness this L ondo n is he sigh ed
T o hope to m eet anyon e i n the streets i s abs u rd
A n d yet w hat can I do ? T en ti m es ha v e I bee n
to th at door and ha v e nev er been l u cky enou gh to
B u t patience L ionel Dean per
fi n d h er at ho m e
I ll sit fo r
s e v eran ce m u st a n d shall w i n the day
ho u rs on those steps i f n ecessary, for s ee K ath lee n
As
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1 32
KAT HLEEN M AVOURNEEN
1 33
.
I w ill I cannot take any interest i n thes e thi n gs
”
so I ll retu r n to Ca mlet Squ are at once
A nd he was abo u t to stride a way when a boy on
cru tches appeared in one o f the door ways and rais
“
ing his v oice said ' Co me along K athleen I v e
”
fo u n d what I want
Lionel started and t u rned eagerly ro u nd
A t the so u nd o f her n a me the girl rose stepped
for ward to w ards J acky then stopped short
A look
a radiant s m ile o f welcom e
of j oy fu l recognition
fl ashed across her sw eet face and holding o u t h er
h ands she cri ed in a v oice fu ll o f em otion
L ionel
”
Am I drea m ing ? O r is this really really yo u ?
“
R eally m e Yo u are not drea m ing b u t wide
”
awake I assu re yo u K athleen replied Lionel joy
fu lly and grasp l n g her hands he led her to a ch al r
“
A nd oh i f yo u only kne w h ow glad I am to see
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H ow
o
u
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y
”
Bu t wh y did y ou n ot com e ?
I cam e as soon as I co u ld W hen I got back
to Donegal K athleen y o u had been gon e three
I was n earl y m ad w ith indignation whe n
we eks
I l earned h o w y o u and yo u r m other had been
treated
I th en got yo u r a dd ress fro m Fath er
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,
KATHLEEN MA VOURN EEN
1 34
.
La ven s b u t could not l ea v e ho m e u ntil last w eek
Since my arri va l i n L ondon I ha v e called m an v
ti m es at yo u r a u nt s ho u se b u t yo u w ere al ways
o u t or they sa1 d yo u were A n d as I ha v e not
the honor o f M rs Sel wood s acqu aintance I co u ld
n o t do m ore than in qu ire fo r yo u at the door
I
w rote to yo u last n ight asking yo u to stay in
and was bitterly disappointed wh e n I cal l ed this
”
a ftern oon
“
I n ev er recei v ed yo u r note b u t I a m glad o u r
fi rst m eeting was here, a m ongst the pict u res
It
w o u ld ha v e been a wk ward in Au nt N ora s dra wi n g
”
—
roo m s e sti ff and for mal
A s Jacky sa w K athleen go for ward w ith joyfu l
steps a n d o utstretch ed hands to m eet this stranger
he felt a s u dden pain at his heart
”
H e w il l take her a way fro m m e he cried
“
and I shall b e friendless once m ore
d espairingly
T hen t u rn i ng he fl ed a way thro ugh the galleries
alone
Di d Father La v ens tel l yo u h ow I had changed
“
asked Lionel
H o w I ha v e resol v ed hence forth
to work fo r o u r poor people and try to m ake the m
m o r e co mforta b l e, m ore sec u re i n their ho m es
.
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KATHLEEN M AVOURN EE N
1 36
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H is grace It will be a noble work to fight
to labor that good laws m ay be m ade fo r ou r people
Bu t oh h o w do u bly noble i f done for God to please
fo r
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I am wi l l ing anxio u s to w or k th u s K ath
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l een if yo u w il l hel p me W ill yo u ?
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Oh yes ass uredly s mili n g
I w ill do what
I can My p ray ers shall be redou bled Bu t there
i s littl e else i n my p o wer
Yo u s ee I a m a go v
ern ess n o w and m y ti me
“
Yo u a go v erness ? I though t y ou li ved w ith
yo u r a u nt and co u sins
K athleen looked at h i m sad ly A sl ight fl us h
tinged her cheek and she said qu ietly '
Yes I li v e with the m b u t I p refer to be inde
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pendent I h a v e a v ery s mal l su m o f mon ey a n d
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th at I w ish to keep as a pro v ision for a rainy day
Lionel bow ed his head and co v ering h i s face with
his hand s groaned alo u d
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“
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A nd to think he cried that my father h as
bro ught yo u to this W hen I think o f you r happy
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h o m e yo u r m other s tender care and then hea r
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that yo u are a go vernes s the s p or t o f u n ruly chil
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d re n worried and annoyed
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KATHLEEN M AVOURNEEN
1 37
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Pardon m e My li fe is not so gloo my as that
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I ha v e only one p u pil my little lam e cou sin H e
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f
is ond o f m e A nd I h 0 p e I tru st that I hav e a
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good deal o f in fl uence w ith h i m
I a m s u re yo u ha v e Bu t yo u are not yo u
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cannot be happy
K athleen t u rned aside he r head A v ision of
the s mall badly fu rnished attic in which she was
lodged ; the cold repellant m anner in which he r
c o u sm s treated her ; the loneliness fro m w hich she
frequ ently s u ffered rose before her and she k n
ew
n ot what to reply
“
Yo u are n ot hap py I can s ee that i n yo u r
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face
h e cried
Yo u cannot h ide it fro m m e
—
T hese peopl e do n ot want yo u Bu t I d o e v ery
K athleen can yo u
m o m ent e v ery ho u r o f my li fe
tru st yo u r happiness to m e ? W ill yo u be my w i fe ?
A great w a v e of cri m son s wept o ver the girl s fair
face then died qu ickly a way lea vi ng her p al er than
before
I wou ld gl adly i f
Bu t oh L ionel there are
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m any barriers to o u r m arriage
I know of n on e My father w il l n ot interfere
H e h as d riven me fr om h im beca u se of my political
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KAT HLEEN M AV OU E N E E N
1 38
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opinions B u t I ha v e a s m all pri vate property
and thou gh we shall not be rich w e shal l ha v e co m
T hen dearest what Father La v ens said yo u
fort
w o u ld consider the greatest barr i er to o u r u nion
w ill soon disappear fo r I ha v e deter mined to b e
”
co m e a Catholic
H e w aited for a m o m ent exp ecting th e girl to
speak b u t not a so u nd escaped her T he delicate
p ro fi le, and softly ro u nded cheek u pon w hich th e
brillian t s u nray fell was all he cou ld see of the ex
pressi v e face and that told h i m littl e of what was
passing in h er m md
“
K athleen I ha v e spoken too soon ? Do y ou
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do u bt my sincerity m y lo v e ?
She t u rned qu ickly H er eyes sh i ning, he r l ips
tre mbling
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O h no she cried
Bu t L ionel my heart is
too full for w ords God has indeed been good to
u s both
I a m frightened at the tho u ghts o f so
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m u ch happiness
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“
T hen he ans wered a great fl as h o f j oy light
ing u p his face ; yo u can lo v e m e—yo u can be
m y angel and help m e to per se v ere i n the work
I hav e u ndertaken enco u ragi n g m e by wo rd and
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1 40
KATHLEEN M AVOURNEEN
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K athl een started to her feet in dis may as she saw
h i m approach
“
Poor Jacky ' H o w badly I ha v e treated yo u
L ionel this is m y little co usi n a n d p u pil Yo u and
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he m u st be good friends
L ionel looked at the boy w ith eyes fu l l o f com
p assion
T hen, p ressing his hand warm ly he
said
Y ou ha v e been kind t o K athl e en she tells m e
”
I am v ery gratefu l to y o u
J acky exa m ined h i m cl osel y then t u rned a way
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It is ti me to go h o me K athleen he said
and taking no notice o f L ionel s re ma rk
shortly
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We h a v e stayed here too long
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I a m sorry d ear sh e ans wered fl u shing
Yo u m u st forgi v e m e for keeping yo u Bu t
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“
J acky s miling radiantly I a m so happy God
H eard them in a way
h as heard my prayers dear
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that I sh o u ld n e ve r ha ve dared hope fo r ; and
cl aspi n g his hand , I a m fi lled with gratit ude and
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l ove
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“
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I can Well i magi ne it said Jacky and I am
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glad
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KATHLEEN M A VOURNEEN
1 41
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Then w ithdra wing his hand he t u rned abr uptly
and l ed the way o u t o f the gallery
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Som e t wenty years later two fi g u res stood to
gether u pon th e h ill side ga zing u pon o n e o f the
m ost v ar ied and pict u res qu e scenes in Donegal
Strange dark m o u ntains wreathed in e v er shi fting
m ists o n the le ft
B elo w the m Sh eep h av en and
”
“
that l i ttle Do wning s B ay
gliste n u po n th e coast
Far o u t to wards the hori zo n rises the gloo my o u t
line o f H or n e Head T he w id e A tlantic is beyond
and crests o f foa m rise u p and fl ash whitely against
th e sky a n d the n disappear
R ight be fore the m
fro w ning d arkly is th e m o u n ta l n o f M u ck i sh
A l o ng a ro u gh u ne v e n road so me s u re footed
horses p ick their w ay ; the rid ers do ff thei r hats
w hilst a cou ple o f pretty bright eyed m aidens d u ck
”
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a cu rtsey and m u rm u r good d ay with a s mile
a n d a bl u sh as they go past
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So here at last w e stand together as maste r
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and m istress i n this co u ntry th a t w e lo v e so w ell
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said Lion el Dean t u rning t o his co mpa n ion ; and
the res ponsibility o f th e w el fare and happiness of
these poor peasants rests u po n o u r sho u lders I t is
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KATHLEE N MA VOURN EEN
1 42
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a terrible b u rden my K athleen and I tre mble when
I re fl ect u pon m y o w n w eakness a n d incapacity
”
“
Yes replied K athleen looking at h i m W i th
s weet gra v e eyes and so yo u m ight dear i f yo u
w ere not s u re that God w o u ld assist yo u n o w as
H e has d one so m erci fully in the past Think
L ionel o f al l the gra ces th at ha v e bee n o u rs
T hink o f yo u r con v ersion ; o f Jacky s reco very
and wonderfu l s u ccess as an artis t o f o u r years o f
happy m arriage ; of the health and strength of o u r
children ; o f yo u r father s illness and beau ti fu l
holy death and yo u r co u rage w ill be rene wed a
h u ndred fol d Great m y h u sband is God s po wer
and m ercy H e W ho has been so go od to u s d u r
ing these past years w ill not desert u s n o w With
H is help w e shall be a ble to effect m any changes
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for the bene fi t o f the poor aro u nd u s
”
I tr u st so dearest cried L ionel w ith e moti on
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and forgi ve m e for do u bting it fo r a m o m en t W ith
yo u by m y side to g u ide and help m e 1 cannot
T he qu estion o f the poor
falter or t u r n back
tenants happiness is a di fficu lt one M u ch h as been
done d u ring th e las t t wenty years b u t not enough
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Not n early enou gh
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