"Ulick is very clever!"

"He's very fond of Garradrimna, and I think he's very fond of the girls."

"It's so dull around here compared with Dublin."

John appeared a fool by the side of this man of the world, who was searching him with a look as he spoke again:

"It's all right for a young fellow to gain his experience as early as he can, but he's a bit too fond of his pleasure. He's going a bit too far."

John put on a strained look of advocacy, but he spoke no word.

"He's not a doctor yet, and even then his living would not be assured; and do ye know what he had the cheek to come telling me the other night—

"'I've got infernally fond of that little girl,' he says.

"'What girl?' I asked in amazement.