ge--and I might
on that subject appeal to Mr. Thaddeus O'Phats here, who is a good
authority on that particular subject, or indeed on any one that involves
the beauty of elocution--I say, then, there is not widin the compass of
spoken language a single word composed of two syllables so delectable
to human ears, as is that word 'dismiss,' to the pupils of a _Plantation
Seminary_; (* A modest periphrasis for a Hedge-School) and I assure you
that those talismanic syllables shall my youthful pupils hear correctly
pronounced to-morrow about ten o'clock."

Whilst O'Finigan was thus dealing out the king's English with such
complacent volubility--a volubility that was deeply indebted to the
liquor he had taken--the following dialogue took place in a cautious
under-tone between Batt Hogan and Teddy.

"So Hycy the sportheen is to be up here to-night?"

"Shiss."

"B--t your shiss! can't you spake like a Christian?"

"No, I won't," replied the other, angrily; "I'll spake as I likes."

"What brings him up, do you know?"

"Bekaise he's goin' to thry his misfortune upon _her_ here," he replied,
pointing to the still. "_You'll_ have a good job of her, fwhedher or
no."

"Why, will he want a new one, do you think?"

"Shiss, to be sure--would ye tink I'd begin to _run_ (* A slang phrase
for distilling) for him on dis ould skillet? an' be de token moreover,
dat wouldn't be afther puttin' nothin' in your pockets--hee! hee! hee!"

"Well, all that's right--don't work for him widout a new one complate,
Teddy--Still, Head, and Worm."

"Shiss, I tell you to be sure I won't--he thried her afore, though."

"Nonsense!--no he didn't."

"Ah, ha! ay dhin--an' she milked well too--a good cow--a brave
_cheehony_ she was for him."

"An' why did he give it up?"

"Fwhy--fwhy, afeard he'd be diskivered, to be sure; an' dhin shure he
couldn't hunt wid de _dinnaousais_--wid de gentlemans."

"An' what if he's discovered now?"

"Fwhat?--fwhy so much the worsher for you an' me: he's ginerous now an'
den, anyway; but a great rogue afther all, fwher so high a hid as he
carries."

"If I don't mistake," proceeded Hogan, "either himself or his family,
anyhow, will be talked of before this time to-morrow."

"Eh, Batt?" asked the other, who had changed his position and sat beside
him during this dialogue--"how is dhat now?"

"I don't rightly know--I can't say," replied Hogan, with a smile
murderously grim but knowing--"I'm not up; but the spor