weeks had to be accounted for. He had questioned her
himself regarding this interval, but had not been able to get any clear
and definite answer from her.

"She and mother never stop quarrelling about Pat Connex."

"It appears," said the priest, "that your mother went out with a jug of
porter under her apron, and offered a sup of it to Pat Connex, who was
talking with Peter M'Shane, and now he is up at your cabin every
Saturday."

"That's it," said Ned.

"Mrs. Connex was here the other day, and I can tell you that if Pat
marries your sister he will find himself cut off with a shilling."

"She's been agin us all the while," said Ned. "Her money has made her
proud, but I don't blame her. If I had the fine house she has, maybe I
would be as proud as she."

"Maybe you would," said the priest. "But what I am thinking of is your
sister Kate. She will never get Pat Connex. Pat will never go against
his mother."

"Well, you see he comes up and plays the melodion on Saturday night,"
said Ned, "and she can't stop him from doing that."

"Then you think," said the priest, "that Pat will marry your sister?"

"I don't think she wants to marry him."

"If she doesn't want to marry him, what's all this talk about?"

"She likes to meet Pat in the evenings and go for a walk with him, and
she likes him to put his arm round her waist and kiss her, saving your
reverence's pardon."

"It is strange that you should be so unlike. You come here and ask me
to speak to Mary Byrne's parents for you, and that I'll do, Ned, and it
will be all right. You will make a good husband, and though you were
drunk last night, you have taken the pledge to-day, and I will make a
good marriage for Kate, too, if she'll listen to me."

"And who may your reverence be thinking of?"

"I'm thinking of Peter M'Shane. He gets as much as six shillings a week
and his keep on Murphy's farm, and his mother has got a bit of money,
and they have a nice, clean cabin. Now listen to me. There is a poultry
lecture at the school-house to-night. Do you think you could bring your
sister with you?"

"We used to keep a great many hens at home, and Kate had the feeding of
them, and now she's turned agin them, and she wants to live in town,
and she even tells Pat Connex she would not marry a farmer, however
much he was worth."

"But if you tell her that Pat Connex will be at the lecture will she
come?"

"Yes, your reverence, if she believes me."

"Then do as I bid