The House by the Church-Yard

by Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu

'Woolly—I was thinkin' so,' said the captive. 'I wisht I had her by the wool, bad luck to her!'

So away he went, to the good-natured ecclesiastic's grief, promising, nevertheless, with a disconsolate affectation of cheerfulness, that all should be settled, and he under the Priest's roof-tree again before night.

'I don't—exactly—know the nature of the business, gentlemen,' said Father Roach, with considerable hesitation.

'Urgent, however, it was—wasn't it?' said Devereux.

'Urgent—well; certainly—a—and——'

'And a summons there was no resisting—from a lady—eh? You said so, Father Roach,' persisted Devereux.

'A—from a leedy—a—yes—certainly,' replied he.

'A widow—is not she?' enquired Devereux.

'A widda, undoubtedly,' said the priest.

'Thay no more Thir,' said little Puddock, to the infinite relief of the reverend father, who flung another look of reproach at Devereux, and muttered his indignation to himself. 'I'm perfectly satisfied; and so, I venture to thay, is Lieutenant O'Flaherty——'