“The deep-dyed villain!” she exclaimed, with indignation; “father, of that crime, so sure as God's in heaven, so sure is Connor O'Donovan innocent, and so sure is Bartle Flanagan guilty—I know it.”
“You know it—explain yourself.”
“I mean I feel it—ay, home to the core of my heart—my unhappy heart—I feel the truth of what I say.”
“Una,” observed her brother, “I'm afraid you have been vilely deceived by him—there's not the slightest doubt of his guilt.”
“Don't you be deceived, John; I say he's innocent—as I hope for heaven he's innocent; and, father, I'm not a bit cast down or disheartened by anything I have yet heard against him.”
“You're a very extraordinary girl, Una; but for my part I'm glad you look upon it as you do. If his innocence appears, no man alive will be better plazed at it than myself.”
“His innocence will appear,” exclaimed the faithful girl; “it must appear; and,—father, mark this—I say the time will tell yet who is innocent and who is guilty. God knows,” she added, her energy of manner increasing, while a shower of hot tears fell down her cheeks, “God knows I would marry him to-morrow with the disgrace of that and ten times as much upon him, so certain am I that his heart and hand are free from thought or deed that's either treacherous or dishonorable.”
“Marry him!” said her brother, losing temper; “nobody doubts but you'd marry him on the gallows, wid the rope about his neck.”
“I would do it, and unite myself to a true heart. Don't mistake me, and mother, dear, don't blame me,” she added, her tears flowing still faster; “he's in disgrace—sunk in shame and sorrow—and I won't conceal the force of what I feel for him; I won't desert him now as the world will do; I know his heart, and on the scaffold to-morrow I would become his wife, if it would take away one atom of his misery.”
“If he's innocent,” said her father, “you have more pinetration than any girl in Europe; but if he's guilty of such an act against any one connected with you, Una, the guilt of all the divils in hell is no match for his. Well, you have heard all we wanted to say to you, and you needn't stay.”