‘You give me great comfort, madam.’
‘And now you are going to risk another venture?’
‘I sincerely trust on safer grounds.’
‘That’s what they all think. I never knew a man that didn’t believe he drew the prize in matrimony. Ask him, however, six months after he’s tied. Say, “What do you think of your ticket now?” Eh, Mat Kearney? It doesn’t take twenty or thirty years quarrelling and disputing to show one that a lottery with so many blanks is just a swindle.’
A loud bang of the door, as Nina flounced out in indignation, almost shook the room.
‘There’s a temper you’ll know more of yet, young gentleman; and, take my word for it, it’s only in stage-plays that a shrew is ever tamed.’
‘I declare,’ cried Dick, losing all patience, ‘I think Miss O’Shea is too unsparing of us all. We have our faults, I’m sure; but public correction will not make us more comfortable.’
‘It wasn’t your comfort I was thinking of, young man; and if I thought of your poor father’s, I’d have advised him to put you out an apprentice. There’s many a light business—like stationery, or figs, or children’s toys—and they want just as little capital as capacity.’
‘Miss Betty,’ said Kearney stiffly, ‘this is not the time nor the place for these discussions. Mr. Walpole was polite enough to present himself here to-day to have the honour of making your acquaintance, and to announce his future marriage.’
‘A great event for us all—and we’re proud of it! It’s what the newspapers will call a great day for the Bog of Allen. Eh, Mat? The princess—God forgive me, but I’m always calling her Costigan—but the princess will be set down niece to Lord Kilgobbin; and if you’—and she addressed Walpole—‘haven’t a mock-title and a mock-estate, you’ll be the only one without them!’