“Not a 'Crazy Jane' bargain, I hope?”
“Really, Mr. Burke, you are pleased to be sarcastic; but as for honest Katsey, have the goodness to take her out of your eye as soon as possible, for she only blinds you to your own interest and to mine.”
“You wouldn't marry Kathleen, then?”
“For the present I say most assuredly not,” replied the son, in the same ironical and polite tone.
“Because,” continued his father, with a very grave smile, in which there was, to say truth, a good deal of the grin visible, “as poor Gerald was a good deal anxious about the matther, I said I'd try and make you marry her—to oblige him.”
Hycy almost, if not altogether, lost his equanimity by the contemptuous sarcasm implied in these words. “Father,” said he, to save trouble, and to prevent you and me both from thrashing the wind in this manner, I think it right to tell you that I have no notion of marrying such a girl as Cavanagh's daughter.”
“No,” continued his mother, “nor if you had, I wouldn't suffer it.”
“Very well,” said the father; “is that your mind?”
“That's my mind, sir.”
“Well, now, listen to mine, and maybe, Hycy, I'll taiche you better manners and more respect for your father; suppose I bring your brother home from school,—suppose I breed him up an honest farmer,—and suppose I give him all my property, and lave Mr. Gentleman Hycy to lead a gentleman's life on his own means, the best way he can. There now is something for you to suppose, and so I must go to my men.”