“Good morrow, Mehicle! God bless your work.”[[1]]
“And you likewise, Aidey. How are you to-day?”
“Why, then, middlin’, only! but there’s no use in complainin’!”
“Indeed, faix, Aidey, you’re airly up! but an’ sure they say it’s the airly thrushes get the airly worms. Whisper! what are you about above here at big house?”
“What house? Is it Brian Mungavan’s you the mane?”
“Yes, to be sure!”
“Ah! myself that knows that! Maybe, though, I might tell you, in the course of time, and maybe yourself might assist me for a bit.”
“Oho! is that the way? Well that it may thrive with you! That’s a business, at any rate, that serves all men, includin’ the priests!”
“And Shanahuses!” said Aidey, grinning, “and I ever knew you to be a capital one!”
“Well, I’m glad you’re going to make a trial of me, and I say again, that it may thrive with you! But, aisy awhile, and answer me one question. I’ve been noticing you, and I’ve seen you passing backward and forward, these few days past, being, as you see, diggin’ the place of a half acre of pratees for myself, and every morning, when you used to be coming out of owld Brian Mungavan’s house, and over that wet place beyant, you used to walk straight through it, and not mind the wet one straw; but when you used to be going in to Brian’s when I was lavin’ off work for the day, and when I was wairy and tired enough myself, it’s then I used to see you give a hop and a jump, and clear the trench in flyin’ colors. And faith it’s not such a bad jump aither, not at all; and it’s no wonder (so it isn’t) that you’d like to carry a dry shoe in to herself; but why shouldn’t you do the same when you’re comin’ out?”