“Quid sentis! No, but it was good fortune sent us. Don't you persave, Dionysius, and you, Denis—don't you know, I say, that this letter of admission couldn't be written except the bishop knew his name in full? Unlucky! Faith if ever a horse was lucky this is he.”
“I declare, Docthor,” said the father, “I can neither sit nor stand, nor think of any one thing for a minute, I'm so much on the fidgets to know what the Bishop 'ill say.”
“I also,” said Dionysius, “am in state of evaporation and uncertainty touching the same point. However, this I can affirm with veracity, that if I am rejected, my mind is made up to pursue an antithetical course of life altogether. If he rejects me now, he will never reject me again.”
“Musha, how—Denny—Dionysis, avick? What do you mane?” said the father.
“I will give,” said the son, “what is designated a loose translation of my meaning to Mr. Finnerty here, if I find that I am excluded on this occasion.”
“And if you do succeed,” said the priest, “I would advise you to hire a loose translator during the remainder of your residence among us; for upon my veracity, Dionysius, the King's English will perform hard duty until you enter Maynooth. Not a word under six feet will be brought into the ranks—grenadiers every one of them, not to mention the thumpers you will coin.”
“Come, Docthor Finnerty,” said our candidate, pulling up a little, “if the base Latin which you put into circulation were compared with my English thumpers, it would be found that of the two, I am more legitimate and etymological.”
“I shall be happy to dispute that point with you another time,” said the priest, “when we can—Silence, here comes the Counsellor.”
“Mr. O'Shaughnessy,” said the lawyer, addressing the candidate, “allow me to congratulate you on your success! Your business is accomplished. The Bishop is just finishing a letter for you to the President of Maynooth. I assure you, I feel great pleasure at your success.”
“Accept my thanks, sir,” said Denis, whose eye was instantly lit up with delight—“accept my most obsequious thanks to the very furthest extent of my gratitude.”