Norah. Mike, you are too strong, you must be careful.
Mike. Faith I handle him just like a new born baby, or like the egg with the chick unborn. But the ould badger’s that tender I’m mortally afraid he’ll go all to pieces in the bath tub.
Norah. Mr. Boyler complains to Doctor Fluke that you are too rough.
Mike. Too rough, is it! Faith he’ll have to be packed in cotton nixt. The Docthor was after tellin’ me to stretch Boyler’s limbs gintly loike an’ I tuk hold av his arm with one hand and his shoulther with the other like this and pulled like this, sort o’ bracin’ mysilf loike with one fut forinst the tub. I’m a thafe if some jint or other didn’t snap like a pistol. I was so scared that I dropped the ould bundle in the wather hid over ears. I thought he was goin’ to exshplode right there in me hands.
Norah. (Laughing.) What did he say?
Mike. I don’t know what he intinded to say. He sthrangled.
Norah. Why, was he under the water so long as that?
Mike. No, indade it wasn’t the wather. It was the strong language. He is that way sometimes when his emotions overcome him. When the ould sinner gets to swearin’, he can’t stop till he sthrangles. After that he’s very paceable for a shpell.
Norah. But he’s awful good in spite of his rough ways. He gives you many a quarter.