s was himself--he was gallant, impressive; and warming with the
rum, entered into details of his private feelings.

He had ever admired and venerated--he said--the character of the
beautiful and fascinating Judith O'Calligan, who had alone, and by her
unassisted merits, removed from his character that tendency toward
contempt and undervaluation of women, which, he was mortified to say,
he had been induced to feel from an early disappointment in love.

Mistress O'Calligan here looked very much flurried, and ejaculated,
Lor!

Mr. Jinks proceeded to say, that the lady need not feel any concern
for him now; that the early disappointment spoken of, had, it was
true, cast a shadow on his life, which, he imagined, nothing but the
gory blood of his successful rival could remove; that still he, Mr.
Jinks, had had the rare, good fortune of meeting with a divine charmer
who caused him to forget his past sorrows, and again indulge in hopes
of domestic felicity and paternal happiness by the larean altars of
a happy home. That the visions of romance had never pictured such a
person; that the lady whom he spoke of, was well known to the lady
whom he addressed; and, indeed, to be more explicit, was not ten
thousand miles from them at the moment in question.

This was so very broad, that the "lady" in question blushed the color
of the red bricks in her fire-place, and declared that Mr. Jinks was
the dreadfulest creature, and he need'nt expect to persuade her that
he liked her--no, he need'nt.

Mr. Jinks repelled the accusation of being a dreadful creature, and
said, that however terrifying his name might be to his enemies among
the men, that no woman had ever yet had cause to be afraid of him, or
to complain of him.

After which, Mr. Jinks frowned, and took a gulp of the poteen.

Mistress O'Calligan thought that Mr. Jinks was very wrong to be
talking in such a meaning way to her--and the lamented O'Calligan not
dead two years. That she knew what it was to bestow her affections on
an object, which object did not return them--and never, never could be
brought to trust the future of those blessed dears a-playing on the
side-walk to a gay deceiver.

After which observation, Mistress O'Calligan took up a corner of
her apron, and made a feint to cry; but not being encouraged by any
consternation, agitation, or objection of any description on the part
of her companion, changed her mind, and smiled.

Mr. Jinks said that if the parago