She was sitting under the shadow of a fragrant lime tree, that overhung a very ancient well; and, as the water fell into her pitcher, she was mingling with its music the tones of her “Jew's harp,” – the only instrument upon which Norah Clary had learned to play. She was a merry maiden of “sweet seventeen;” a rustic belle, as well as a rustic beauty, and a “terrible coquette;” and, as she had what, in Scotland, they call a “tocher,” – in England, a “dowry,” and in Ireland, a “pretty penny o’ money,” it is scarcely necessary to state, in addition, that she had – a bachelor. Whether the tune – which was certainly given in alto – was, or was not, designed as a summons to her lover, I cannot take upon myself to say; but her lips and fingers had not been long occupied, before her lover was at her side.

“We may as well give it up, Morris Donovan,” she said, somewhat abruptly; look, 'twould be as easy to twist the top off the great hill of Howth, as make, father and mother agree about any one thing. They've been playing the rule of contrary these twenty years; and it's not likely they'll take a turn now.”

“It's mighty hard, so it is,” replied handsome Morris, “that married people can't draw together. Norah, darlint! that wouldn't be the way with us. It's one we'd be in heart and sowl, and an example of love and –”

“Folly,” interrupted, the maiden, laughing. “Morris, Morris, we've quarrelled a score o’ times already; and a bit of a breeze makes life all the pleasanter. Shall I talk about the merry jig I danced with Phil Kennedy, or repeat what Mark Doolen said of me to Mary Grey? – eh, Morris?”

The long black lashes of Norah Clary's bright brown eyes almost touched her low, but delicately pencilled brows, as she looked archly up at her lover – her lip curled with a half-playful, half-malicious smile; but the glance was soon withdrawn, and the maiden's cheek glowed with a deep and eloquent blush, when the young man passed his arm round her waist, and, pushing the curls from her forehead, gazed upon her with a loving, but mournful look.