The Kellys and the O'Kellys. Anthony Trollope

she didn't say so, she won't agree to tell him, or to let me tell him, or just to let the priest walk into the house without telling him. She's fond of Barry, though, for the life of me, I can't see what there is in him for anybody to be fond of. He and his father led her the divil's own life mewed up there, because she wouldn't be a nun. But still is both fond and afraid of him; and, though I don't think she'll marry anybody else—at laist not yet awhile, I don't think she'll ever get courage to marry me—at any rate, not in the ordinary way."

      "Why then, Martin, you must do something extraordinary, I suppose."

      "That's just it, my lord; and what I wanted was, to ask your lordship's advice and sanction, like."

      "Sanction! Why I shouldn't think you'd want anybody's sanction for marrying a wife with four hundred a-year. But, if that's anything to you, I can assure you I approve of it."

      "Thank you, my lord. That's kind."

      "To tell the truth," continued Lord Ballindine, "I've a little of your own first feeling. I'd be glad of it, if it were only for the rise it would take out of my schoolfellow, Barry. Not but that I think you're a deal too good to be his brother-in-law. And you know, Kelly, or ought to know, that I'd be heartily glad of anything for your own welfare. So, I'd advise you to hammer away while the iron's hot, as the saying is."

      "That's just what I'm coming to. What'd your lordship advise me to do?"

      "Advise you? Why, you must know best yourself how the matter stands. Talk her over, and make her tell Barry."

      "Divil a tell, my lord, in her. She wouldn't do it in a month of Sundays."

      "Then do you tell him, at once. I suppose you're not afraid of him?"

      "She'd niver come to the scratch, av' I did. He'd bully the life out of her, or get her out of the counthry some way."

      "Then wait till his back's turned for a month or so. When he's out, let the priest walk in, and do the matter quietly that way."

      "Well, I thought of that myself, my lord; but he's as wary as a weazel, and I'm afeard he smells something in the wind. There's that blackguard Moylan, too, he'd be telling Barry—and would, when he came to find things weren't to be settled as he intended."

      "Then you must carry her off, and marry her up here, or in Galway or down in Connemara, or over at Liverpool, or any where you please."

      "Now you've hit it, my lord. That's just what I'm thinking myself. Unless I take her off Gretna Green fashion, I'll never get her."

      "Then why do you want my advice, if you've made up your mind to that? I think you're quite right; and what's more, I think you ought to lose no time in doing it. Will she go, do you think?"

      "Why, with a little talking, I think she will."

      "Then what are you losing your time for, man? Hurry down, and off with her! I think Dublin's probably your best ground."

      "Then you think, my lord, I'd betther do it at once?"

      "Of course, I do! What is there to delay you?"

      "Why, you see, my lord, the poor girl's as good as got no friends, and I wouldn't like it to be thought in the counthry, I'd taken her at a disadvantage. It's thrue enough in one way, I'm marrying her for the money; that is, in course, I wouldn't marry her without it. And I tould her, out open, before her face, and before the girls, that, av' she'd ten times as much, I wouldn't marry her unless I was to be masther, as long as I lived, of everything in my own house, like another man; and I think she liked me the betther for it. But, for all that, I wouldn't like to catch her up without having something fair done by the property."

      "The lawyers, Martin, can manage that, afterwards. When she's once Mrs Kelly, you can do what you like about the fortune."

      "That's thrue, my lord. But I wouldn't like the bad name I'd get through the counthry av' I whisked her off without letting her settle anything. They'd be saying I robbed her, whether I did or no: and when a thing's once said, it's difficult to unsay it. The like of me, my lord, can't do things like you noblemen and gentry. Besides, mother'd never forgive me. They think, down there, that poor Anty's simple like; tho' she's cute enough, av' they knew her. I wouldn't, for all the money, wish it should be said that Martin Kelly ran off with a fool, and robbed her. Barry 'd be making her out a dale more simple than she is; and, altogether, my lord, I wouldn't like it."

      "Well, Martin, perhaps you're right. At any rate you're on the right side. What is it then you think of doing?"

      "Why, I was thinking, my lord, av' I could get some lawyer here to draw up a deed, just settling all Anty's property on herself when I die, and on her children, av' she has any,—so that I couldn't spend it you know; she could sign it, and so could I, before we started; and then I'd feel she'd been traited as well as tho' she'd all the friends in Connaught to her back."

      "And a great deal better, probably. Well, Martin, I'm no lawyer, but I should think there'd not be much difficulty about that. Any attorney could do it."

      "But I'd look so quare, my lord, walking into a sthranger's room and explaining what I wanted—all about the running away and everything. To be sure there's my brother John's people; they're attorneys; but it's about robberies, and hanging, and such things they're most engaged; and I was thinking, av' your lordship wouldn't think it too much throuble to give me a line to your own people; or, may-be, you'd say a word to them explaining what I want. It'd be the greatest favour in life."

      "I'll tell you what I'll do, Kelly. I'll go with you, to-morrow, to Mr Blake's lawyers—that's my friend that was sitting here—and I've no doubt we'll get the matter settled. The Guinnesses, you know, do all my business, and they're not lawyers."

      "Long life to your lordship, and that's just like yourself! I knew you'd stick by me. And shall I call on you to-morrow, my lord? and at what time?"

      "Wait! here's Mr Blake. I'll ask him, and you might as well meet me there. Grey and Forrest's the name; it's in Clare Street, I think." Here Mr Blake again entered the room.

      "What!" said he; "isn't your business over yet, Ballindine? I suppose I'm de trop then. Only mind, dinner's ordered for half past six, and it's that now, and you're not dressed yet!"

      "You're not de trop, and I was just wanting you. We're all friends here, Kelly, you know; and you needn't mind my telling Mr Blake. Here's this fellow going to elope with an heiress from Connaught, and he wants a decently honest lawyer first."

      "I should have thought," said Blake, "that an indecently dishonest clergyman would have suited him better under those circumstances."

      "May-be he'll want that, too, and I've no doubt you can recommend one. But at present he wants a lawyer; and, as I have none of my own, I think Forrest would serve his turn."

      "I've always found Mr Forrest ready to do anything in the way of his profession—for money."

      "No, but—he'd draw up a deed, wouldn't he, Blake? It's a sort of a marriage settlement."

      "Oh, he's quite at home at that work! He drew up five, for my five sisters, and thereby ruined my father's property, and my prospects."

      "Well, he'd see me to-morrow, wouldn't he?" said Lord Ballindine.

      "Of course he would. But mind, we're to be off early. We ought to be at the Curragh, by three."

      "I suppose I could see him at ten?" said his lordship.

      It was then settled that Blake should write a line to the lawyer, informing him that Lord Ballindine wished to see him, at his office, at ten o'clock the next morning; it was also agreed that Martin should meet him there at that hour; and Kelly took his leave, much relieved on the subject nearest his heart.

      "Well, Frank," said Blake, as soon as the door was closed, "and have you got the money you wanted?"

      "Indeed I've not, then."

      "And why not? If your protégé is going to elope with an heiress, he ought to have money