shame to
ye; but to make out ye're afeard uv a dhrap uv the craythur, an' give
yer worrud niver to touch it, wad be to confess yersilf a poor wake
gossoon widout any sperrit in him at all, at all."

Mrs. Ryan was never afraid of her husband in his sober moments, as will
be readily observed. Indeed, at such times, he stood somewhat in awe of
her sharp tongue. On the present occasion she continued to rail against
water-drinkers and their weakmindedness, till, as if ashamed of the
moral cowardice he had evinced, Donovan said:

"Whist, wumman, hould yer tongue, ye've no nade to fear I'll jhine the
teetotalers, so make yer mind aisy on that point."

After which assurance Mrs. Ryan cooled down, and allowed her husband to
smoke his pipe in thoughtful silence.

"What on airth are ye thinkin' uv, Mrs. Fisher, to let yer husban' sign
against a dhrap uv good beer?" she said the next morning to her
neighbour.

"I'm downright glad he has, and I mean to do the same. You see, the
children's set the example, and were so earnest for their father to
sign, that he made up his mind to do so. I wish you'd let your little
ones do the same, and persuade your husband too."

"Bad cess to ye for settin' yerself up to be suparior to yer neighbours,
and advasin' uv them to follow yer example. Faix, I'd rather me husban'
git dhrunk ivery blissid day uv his life, an' bate me black and blue
inter the bargain, nor sign the pledge." And in high dudgeon Mrs. Ryan
went in, slamming her door behind her with great violence.

Weeks and months passed away, and still, in the dingy court where the
Ryans and Fishers lived, the same sad scenes of sin and degradation were
witnessed. One day it was rumoured that the Fishers were moving into a
better neighbourhood, which rumour proved to be correct.

"An' didn't I say as her ladyship, wid her illigant slips uv childer,
an' her jintleman husban' wad soon be too suparior intoirely to mix wid
the likes uv us. Axin' yer kind lave, shure it's Peggy Ryan as wishes ye
ivery blissin', an' has the honour uv givin' ye a partin' bit uv advace.
Lave yer dacint neighbours alone, an' don't hould yer head up so high,
me dear." Thus saying, Mrs. Ryan stood in front of Mrs. Fisher, who was
about to follow her goods and chattels out of the court, and, to the
amusement of the bystanders, spread out her scanty skirts, and made a
sweeping curtesy. For some time past Mrs. Fisher had found it difficult
to live peaceably among h