“Ha! these are Ellen’s features! Merciful God!—Do I rave, or dream? Speak, boy—your name?”
“O’Halloran.”
“Your business?—Quick!—quick!”
“Pardon for my mother.”
“Ellen, Ellen, Ellen!” he feebly muttered; and next moment be fainted in my arms.
I was dreadfully alarmed. I thought my sudden appearance had operated fatally, called loudly for assistance, and on looking around to see whether my summons had been heard, observed that the Jesuit, followed by several men, was running towards me rapidly. In another minute he was at our side; and never, in a human countenance, were anger and astonishment so mingled as in his.
“Remove your master!” he exclaimed to the servants. “Who are you, sir?” he continued, bending his shaggy brows over eyes of sinister expression, and directing their deadly glare at me. “How dare you intrude where strangers are excluded?”
“By right of kindred!” I thundered in return.
The monk’s face blanched. “Remove your master instantly,” he continued, “and eject this man—by force, if necessary!”
“Beware!” I said; “the man who tries it may count on broken bones!”