d go when he came in that night till he
had promised to vote as the priest wished."

"Patsy Rogan is an ignorant man," said Annie, "there are many like him
even here."

"Ah, sure there will be always some like him. Don't we like to believe
the priest can do all things."

"But Kate doesn't believe the priest can do these things. Anyhow she's
married, and there will be an end to all the work that has been going
on."

"That's true for you, Annie, and that's just what I came to talk to you
about. I think now she's married we ought to give her a chance. Every
girl ought to get her chance, and the way to put an end to all this
talk about her will be for you to come round to the dance to-night."

"I don't know that I can do that. I am not friends with the Kavanaghs,
though I always bid them the time of day when I meet them on the road."

"If you come in for a few minutes, or if Pat were to come in for a few
minutes. If Peter and Pat aren't friends they'll be enemies."

"Maybe they'd be worse enemies if I don't keep Pat out of Kate's way.
She's married Peter; but her mind is not settled yet."

"Yes, Annie, I've thought of all that; but they'll be meeting on the
road, and, if they aren't friends, there will be quarrelling, and some
bad deed may be done."

Annie did not answer, and, thinking to convince her, Mary said:--

"You wouldn't like to see a corpse right over your window."

"It ill becomes you, Mary, to speak of corpses after the blow that
Peter gave Pat with his stick at Ned Kavanagh's wedding. No; I must
stand by my son, and I must keep him out of the low Irish, and he won't
be safe until I get him a good wife."

"The low Irish! indeed, Annie, it ill becomes you to talk that way of
your neighbours. Is it because none of us have brass knockers on our
doors? I have seen this pride growing up in you, Annie Connex, this
long while. There isn't one in the village now that you've any respect
for except the grocer, that black Protestant, who sits behind his
counter and makes money, and knows no enjoyment in life at all."

"That's your way of looking at it; but it isn't mine. I set my face
against my son marrying Kate Kavanagh, and you should have done the
same."

"Something will happen to you for the cruel words you have spoken to me
this day."

"Mary, you came to ask me to your son's wedding, and I had to tell
you--"

"Yes, and you've told me that you won't come, and that you hate the
Kavanaghs, and you'v