ess, and, shaking his hand with an air of
impatience over them, muttered some words, rather in mockery of the
ceremony than otherwise. They then rose, and, blessing themselves, put
on their hats, rubbed the dust off their knees, and appeared to think
themselves recruited by a peculiar accession of grace.

On entering the house the same form was repeated; and when it was over,
the best chair was placed for him by Mary's own hands, and the fire
stirred up, and a line of respect drawn, within which none was to
intrude, lest he might feel in any degree incommoded.

"My good neighbour," said he to Mrs Sullivan, "what strange woman is
this, who has thrown the parish into such a ferment? I'm told she paid
you a visit? Pray sit down."

"I humbly thank your Reverence," said Mary, curtseying lowly, "but I'd
rather not sit, sir, if you, plase. I hope I know what respect manes,
your Reverence. Barny Bradagh, I'll thank you to stand up, if you plase,
an' his Reverence to the fore, Barny."

"I ax your Reverence's pardon, an' yours, too, Mrs Sullivan; sure we
didn't mane the disrespect, anyhow, sir, plase your Reverence."

"About this woman, and the _Lianhan Shee_," said the priest, without
noticing Barny's apology. "Pray what do you precisely understand by a
_Lianhan Shee_?"

"Why, sir," replied Mary, "some sthrange bein' from the good people, or
fairies, that sticks to some persons. There's a bargain, sir, your
Reverence, made atween thim; an' the divil, sir, that is, the ould
boy--the saints about us!--has a hand in it. The _Lianhan Shee_, your
Reverence, is never seen only by thim it keeps wid; but--hem!--it
always, wid the help of the ould boy, conthrives, sir, to make the
person brake the agreement, an' thin it has _thim_ in _its_ power; but
if they _don't_ brake the agreement, thin _it's_ in _their_ power. If
they can get anybody to put in their place, they may get out o' the
bargain; for they can, of a sartainty, give oceans o' money to people,
but can't take any themselves, plase your Reverence. But sure, where's
the use o' me to be tellin' your Reverence what you know betther nor
myself?--an' why shouldn't you, or any one that has the power you have?"

He smiled again at this in his own peculiar manner, and was proceeding
to inquire more particularly into the nature of the interview between
them, when the noise of feet, and sounds of general alarm, accompanied
by a rush of people into the house, arrested his attention