“Bridget,” said the gracious Bodagh, “we must have a glass of punch; an' upon my reputaytion, Oona, we'll drink to his speedy return.”
“Throth, an' Oona will take a glass, herself, this night,” added her mother; “an' thanks be to Goodness she'll be our colleen dhas dhun again—won't you have a glass, asthore machree?”
“I'll do anything that any of you wishes me, mother,” replied Una.
She gave, as she uttered the words, a slight sob, which turned their attention once more to her, but they saw at once, by the brilliant sparkle of her eyes, that it was occasioned by the unexpected influx of delight and happiness which was accumulating around her heart.
“Mother,” she said, “will you make the punch for them to—night? I cannot rest till I let poor Biddy Kulty know what has happened. Cleared!” she added, exultingly, “his name and character cleared!”
The beautiful girl then left the room, and, short as was the space which had elapsed since she heard her brother's communication, they could not help being struck at the light elastic step with which she tripped out of it. Brief, however, as the period was, she had time to cast aside the burthen of care which had pressed her down and changed her easy pace to the slow tread of sorrow.
“God help our poor colleen dhas,” exclaimed her mother, “but she's the happy creature, this night!”
“And happy will the hearth be where her light will shine,” replied her father, quoting a beautiful Irish proverb to that effect.
“The ways of Providence are beautiful when seen aright or understood,” observed her brother. “She was too good to be punished, but not too perfect to be tried. Their calamitous separation will enhance the value of their affection for each other when they meet; for pure and exalted as her love for him is, yet I am proud to say that Connor is worthy of her and it.”
That night her mother observed that Una spent a longer time than usual at her devotions, and, looking into her room when passing, she saw her on her knees, and heard her again sobbing with the grateful sense of a delighted heart. She did not again address her, and they all retired to happier slumbers than they had enjoyed for many a night.