money for our churches."

The priest spoke to her about statues, and suggested that perhaps a
statue would be a more permanent gift, but the old woman knew that
stained glass was more permanent, and that it could be secured from
breakage by means of wire netting.

"Do you know, Biddy, it will require three or four thousand pounds to
build a new church. If I go to America and do my best to get the money,
how much will you help me with?"

"Does your reverence mean for the window?"

"No, Biddy, I was thinking of the church itself."

And Biddy said that she would give him five pounds to help to build the
church and fifty pounds for her window, and, she added, "If the best
gilding and paint costs a little more I would be sorry to see the
church short."

"Well, you say, Biddy, you will give five pounds towards the church.
Now, let us think how much money I could get in this parish."

He had a taste for gossip, and he liked to hear everyone's domestic
details. She began by telling him she had met Kate Kavanagh on the
road, and Kate had told her that there had been great dancing last
night.

"But there was no wedding," said the priest.

"I only know, your reverence, what Kate Kavanagh told me. There had
been great dancing last night. The supper was ordered at Michael
Dunne's, and the cars were ordered, and they went to Enniskerry and
back."

"But Michael Dunne would not dare to serve supper to people who were
not married," said the priest.

"The supper had been ordered, and they would have to pay for it whether
they ate it or not. There was a pig's head, and the cake cost eighteen
shillings, and it was iced."

"Never mind the food," said the priest, "tell me what happened."

"Kate said that after coming back from Enniskerry, Michael Dunne said:
'Is this the wedding party?' and that Ned jumped off the car, and said:
'To be sure. Amn't I the wedded man.' And they had half a barrel of
porter."

"Never mind the drink," said the priest, "what then?"

"There was dancing first and fighting after. Pat Connex and Peter
M'Shane were both there. You know Pat plays the melodion, and he asked
Peter to sing, and Peter can't sing a bit, and he was laughed at. So he
grabbed a bit of stick and hit Pat on the head, and hit him badly, too.
I hear the doctor had to be sent for."

"That is always the end of their dancing and drinking," said the
priest. "And what happened then, what happened? After that they went
home?"

"Y