Thady was neither the one nor the other; and the blood did grow cold round his heart—his pulse quickened, and his nerves shook within him; but these were involuntary signs of his human nature. He spent the day in the performance of his religious duties, and made continual efforts to fix his mind on those subjects to which it was directed by the priest; and at last he received from him final absolution for his sins, with a full assurance in its efficacy. And if true and deep repentance can make absolution available, the priest's assurance was not ill grounded.
Father Cullen, at Drumsna, and different priests in the neighbouring parishes again desired their congregations to absent themselves from the execution, and on the Sunday evening before the fatal day it was thoroughly understood through the country, that it was the wish of the priest that no one should be present.
The Monday morning came. Though Father John had not been allowed to remain all night in the prisoner's cell, he did not leave it till eleven, and was with him again at six. When the gaoler turned the key in the door, Father John found the prisoner still sleeping on his pallet. Even the loud noise of the key in the lock, and the dropping back of the heavy bolt had failed to awaken him. Before he left him on the previous evening he had insisted on his partially undressing, and he now found him exactly in the position in which he had left him.
Eight was the hour fixed for the execution, and though it seemed cruel to rob him of his last human comfort, still as so few minutes of life remained, the priest thought it better to rouse him. He laid his hand on his shoulder, and calling out his Christian name, gently shook him. It was wonderful how soundly the poor fellow slept; and at last he jumped up with a smile on his wan face, uttering those confused words of acknowledgment which so readily come to the lips of any one conscious of being caught sleeping too late, to the neglect of his worldly duties. He had been dreaming—and in his dreams he was again at Ballycloran—again sitting over the warm turf fire, talking with his father, after his hard day's work, of their lands, and their rents, and their difficulties. Father John's presence—the cold close white wall and his own memory soon made him again conscious of the truth; and as he pressed his hands to his forehead, remembering that he should never again feel the luxury of sleep, the expression of his face was dreadful to be seen.
There is nothing further to relate respecting him. As the clock struck eight he was standing on the iron grate over the front entrance into Carrick gaol. He had supported himself firmly—though evidently with difficulty. The cap was over his face—his hands were tied behind his back—and the rope was round his neck. The last sound that met his ear was the final prayer which Father John sobbed forth that God would receive him into his mercy; the bolt was drawn—and Thady Macdermot was soon no more.
Not one human form appeared before the gaol that morning. Not even a passenger crossed over the bridge from half-past seven till after eight, as from thence one might just catch a glimpse of the front of the prison. At the end of the bridge stood three or four men guarding the street, and cautioning those who came, that they could not pass by; and as their behests were quietly obeyed the police did not interfere with them. Among them were Joe Reynolds and Corney Dolan, and they did not leave their post till they were aware that the body of him to whom they showed this last respect had been removed. The shops were closed during the whole day; but it was many days before the sad melancholy which attended the execution of Thady Macdermot wore away from the little town of Carrick-on-Shannon.
PRINTED BY J. S. VIRTUE, CITY ROAD, LONDON.
PRINTED BY J. S. VIRTUE, CITY ROAD, LONDON.
Obvious typographical errors have been corrected.Chapter XII, paragraph 13. The blind piper from County Mayo who plays at the wedding of Mary Brady and Denis McGovery is here named Shamuth na Pibu'a. The reader might recall that in Chapter VIII he was called Shamus na Pe'bria. The discrepancy was left unchanged from the original text.Specific changes in wording of the text are listed below.Chapter VI, paragraph 77. "Miles" was changed to "Myles" in the sentence beginning: Feemy looked from one to the other; she knew well by MYLES' look, that he still expected her togo, …Chapter VI, paragraph 123. The word "began" was changed to "begun" in the sentence beginning: He was not aware how very uncouth his own manner had been; that instead of reasoning with her gently he had BEGUN by sneering at herlover, …Chapter XIII, paragraph 52. An em-dash was added to the sentence: "Go asy now, masther Morty,"—the swain rejoiced in the name of Mortimer Kelley.Chapter XIV, paragraph 1. The order of the words "were she" was transposed in the last sentence: He thought that if SHE WERE at present domiciled at Mrs.McKeon's, …Chapter XIX, paragraph 70. The spelling of the nickname of Mrs. McKeon's daughter Lydia was changed from "Liddy" to "Lyddy," to match the spelling elsewhere, in the sentence: LYDDY, give Captain Ussher a glass of sherry.Chapter XXV, paragraph 21. "Mr." was changed to "Mrs." in the sentence containing: … that Pat, at last, consented to come forward at the trial and swear to all the circumstances of the meeting at MRS.Mehan's, …Chapter XXIX, paragraph 55. The word "you're" was changed to "your" in the sentence beginning: Well, now, on YOUR oath, have you ever, in the prisoner's presence, heard such languageused …
Obvious typographical errors have been corrected.
Chapter XII, paragraph 13. The blind piper from County Mayo who plays at the wedding of Mary Brady and Denis McGovery is here named Shamuth na Pibu'a. The reader might recall that in Chapter VIII he was called Shamus na Pe'bria. The discrepancy was left unchanged from the original text.
Specific changes in wording of the text are listed below.
Chapter VI, paragraph 77. "Miles" was changed to "Myles" in the sentence beginning: Feemy looked from one to the other; she knew well by MYLES' look, that he still expected her togo, …
Chapter VI, paragraph 123. The word "began" was changed to "begun" in the sentence beginning: He was not aware how very uncouth his own manner had been; that instead of reasoning with her gently he had BEGUN by sneering at herlover, …
Chapter XIII, paragraph 52. An em-dash was added to the sentence: "Go asy now, masther Morty,"—the swain rejoiced in the name of Mortimer Kelley.
Chapter XIV, paragraph 1. The order of the words "were she" was transposed in the last sentence: He thought that if SHE WERE at present domiciled at Mrs.McKeon's, …
Chapter XIX, paragraph 70. The spelling of the nickname of Mrs. McKeon's daughter Lydia was changed from "Liddy" to "Lyddy," to match the spelling elsewhere, in the sentence: LYDDY, give Captain Ussher a glass of sherry.
Chapter XXV, paragraph 21. "Mr." was changed to "Mrs." in the sentence containing: … that Pat, at last, consented to come forward at the trial and swear to all the circumstances of the meeting at MRS.Mehan's, …
Chapter XXIX, paragraph 55. The word "you're" was changed to "your" in the sentence beginning: Well, now, on YOUR oath, have you ever, in the prisoner's presence, heard such languageused …