“What an uproar they make in a quiet place!” said she, as she returned to Dennis Costigan, who was laughing heartily at the spree.
Now, there is something extraordinary in the blood of an Irishman. A fight is his choicest amusement, and if he is not a principal actor in one, he must be a spectator. Even our sober barony Forth farmer was excited, and eagerly asked “what it was all about?”
“All about nonsinse,” replied Mrs Boniface, “all about nonsinse when it is about a woman. All the uproar was about a naibur ov yours, Misther Costigan, who has turned the heads ov some ov our lads here, an’ many others besides—one Miss Kavanagh. Do you know her?”
“Know her!” exclaimed Dennis, and suddenly set down his glass on the counter, just as he was about to put it to his lips.
“What’s the matther, Mr Costigan?” asked the landlady alarmed; “don’t you like yer punch?”
“Oh, I likes it well,” returned Mr Costigan, in a sickly tone, “but somehow there’s an all-overness over me that makes me very quare at times, but it will wear off. Here’s to yer health, Mrs Roche!” and gulped off the punch at a draught, as if he didn’t know well what he was about. He then proceeded on his journey, inwardly determined not to stop again, lest he might hear the dreaded name before he arrived at his sister’s, and there he trusted he was free from the infliction. Nevertheless, the name was mentioned at the wedding, and our farmer, under the influence of good cheer and hilarity, laughed loud and long as his brain began to whirl while thinking of the strange combination of circumstances that brought Kate Kavanagh for ever before him.
At this wedding was a certain buck of the name of Magrah. He was a rake and a spendthrift, but, nevertheless, was artful and designing. He had heard of the beauty of Kate Kavanagh, and knowing that Mr Costigan was a neighbour of hers, he tormented him with questions about her, particularly “if she had a fortune?”
For the first time in his life Dennis Costigan told an untruth with an evil intention. He protested that Kate Kavanagh had a fortune, and a good one too; he praised her person and industrious habits; and at last became so zealous in his friendship to his absent neighbours as to give a cordial invitation to Mr Magrah to his house, for the purpose of seeing and being introduced to the “belle o’ the barony,” but never once asking what sort of person this Magrah was, or what was his means of living.
Mr Pat Magrah very eagerly accepted the invitation, returned with Mr Costigan, and was introduced to and charmed with handsome Kate Kavanagh, and he found his quarters so good, and his time pass so agreeably, that instead of a week he remained a month in the neighbourhood of the “flower of Forth,” quite enamoured with her beauty and attractions.
Dennis Costigan was delighted. Like a true friend to one or all of the parties, he encouraged the courtship by every means in his power—even lending money to the suitor to enable him to cut a dash in the eyes of Miles Kavanagh and his daughter.