One thing, however, she had not counted on, and that was the emotion of Harrigan.

Every one of his songs carried on the theme of love in a greater or less degree, and now his own singing swept him beyond the bounds of caution; he turned directly to Kate and sang for her alone "Kathleen Mavourneen." There was love and farewell at once in his singing, there was yearning and despair.
She knew that a crisis had come, and that McTee was pressed to the limits of his endurance.

The game had gone too far, and yet she dared not appear indifferent to the singing.

That would have been too direct a betrayal, so she sat with her head back and a smile on her lips.
There was a groan and a stifled curse.

McTee rose; the song died in the throat of Harrigan..