"Good—continue; on St. Patrick's day—"
"The Dutch assemble and parade a figure—you understand, either of wood or a man—a figure representing St. Patrick—"
"Possible!"
"Yes; and round his neck they place a string of Irish potatoes, like a necklace—"
"A necklace! what an idea. Not pearls or corals—potatoes!" And Ralph laughed with an expression of innocent surprise, which was only adopted on great occasions.
"Yes," said Mr. Jinks, "of potatoes; and you may imagine what a sight it is—the saint dressed up in that way."
"Really! it must be side-splitting."
"It is productive of much gory sport," said Mr. Jinks.
"Ah!" said Ralph, "I should think so. Gory is the very word."
"Besides this they have another figure—"