"'Yes, sir; and she sint me, your riverence, to see wud ye come down and marry her to Lanty Casey the night.'
"'Are your wits gone ashaughran, ye gomeral? Or is Katty run mad altogether?'
"'It's just as I say, your riverence; and she says she'll pay you a pound English for that same.'
"'And I say that if I go down there to-night, that I'll take my whip with me to the shameless hussy. The Jezabel, and she nearly dyin' with grief this evening.'
"'An' you won't marry them, sir?'
"A staggering box on the ear with a heavy slipper flung from across the room sent the unfortunate messenger whimpering out of the door; while the priest, honest man, stormed up and down the room until the housekeeper entered with a waiter, on which were arrayed a decanter, some tumblers, a lemon, and a large tumbler full of loaf sugar.
"'Come, Peter,' said he, more calmly, 'reach the kettle from the hob, and we'll let the jade go. Perhaps she's out of her head, poor thing! and will forget all about what she says to-night by to-morrow morning. What are you grinning at there?'
"'Do you remimber the coult ye won from me whin I bet that ye couldn't light your pipe wid the sun?'
"'Yis, Pether. Ah, I had ye thin, sharp as you count yourself!'
"'Well, now, I'll bet the very moral of him against himself that Katty'll send up again—if she don't come herself.'