'Ah, Captain, jewel, why wouldn't you let a poor fellow taste happiness his own way? Is it because I had no shoes on me that I hadn't any pride in my heart? And is it because I wasn't rich that you wouldn't let me be a friend to you, just to myself alone? Oh, little as we know of grand people and their ways, troth, they don't see our hearts half as plain. See, now I 'd rather you 'd have come up to the bed that morning and left me your curse—ay, devil a less—than that purse of money; and it wouldn't do me as much harm.'
He dropped his head as he spoke, and his arms fell listlessly to his side, while he stood mute and sorrow-struck before me.
'Come, Joe,' said I, holding out my hand to him—'come, Joe, forgive me. If I didn't know better, remember we were only new acquaintance at that time: from this hour we are more.'
The words seemed to act like a spell upon him; he stood proudly up, and his eyes flashed with their wildest glare, while, seizing my hand, he pressed it to his lips, and called out—
'While there's a drop in my heart, darlin'——'
'You have a letter for me,' said I, glad to turn the channel of both our thoughts. 'Where did you get it?'
'At the Curragh, sir, no less. I was standing beside the staff, among all the grand generals and the quality, near the Lord Liftinint, and I heard one of the officers say, “If I knew where to write to him, I'd certainly do so; but he has never written to any of us since his duel.” “Ah,” said another, “Binton's an odd fellow that way.” The minit I heard the name, I up and said to him, “Write the letter, and I'll bring it, and bring you an answer besides, av ye want it.”
'“And who the devil are you?” said he.
'“Troth,” said I, “there's more on this race knows me nor yourself, fine as ye are.” And they all began laughing at this, for the officer grew mighty red in the face, and was angry; and what he was going to say it's hard to tell, for just then Lord Clonmel called out—
'“Sure, it's Tipperary Joe himself; begad, every one knows him. Here, Joe, I owe you half-a-crown since last meeting at the lough.”