r, as you are pleased to call me, was never better in my life;
as for the mistress and the young ladies there they are, so judge for
yourself, Darby: but Darby my good friend, you have a d--d sneaking,
slavish way with you. Why do you call me 'your honor' when you know--for
I've often told you--that wouldn't bear it? Am I not one of yourselves?
and don't most of you know that I began the world upon half-a-crown, and
once carried a hardware basket on my arm?--d--n it, then, speak like a
man to a man, and not like a slave, as I'm half inclined to think you
are."

"Throth, sir," replied Hourigan, with an indescribable laugh, "an' for
all that you say, there's many that gets the title of 'your honor,' that
doesn't desarve it _as well_."

"Ah well, man! Why, there's many a man gets it that doesn't desarve it
_at all_, which is saying more than you said--ha! ha! ha!"

Whilst this little dialogue took place, our worthy Buck had abandoned
his place under the ikee, and flown to the car to assist the ladies
off--a piece of attention not unobserved by Purcel, who obliquely kept
his eye upon that worthy's gallantry, and the reception it was getting
from the parties to whom it was offered.

"Leedies," said the Buck, in his politest manner and language, "will you
allow me the gallantry to help you off? Mrs. Purcel, I hope you're well.
Here, ma'am, aveel yourself of me."

"Thank you, Mr. English; I'm much obliged," she returned, rather coolly.

"Leedies," he proceeded, flying to the other side, "allow me the
gallantry."

The two young women, who were full of spirits and good humor, were
laughing most heartily, _sub silentio_, at the attention thus so
ceremoniously paid to their mother by a man whom, beyond all human
beings, she detested. Now, however, that he came to proffer his
"gallantry" to themselves, they were certainly rather hard pressed to
maintain or rather regain their gravity.

"Leedies," the Buck continued, "may I have the gallantry to help you
off?"

"Oh, thank you, it's too much trouble, Mr. English."

"None on airth, Miss Purcel--do let me have the high-flown
satisfaction."

"Oh, well," she replied, "since you will be so polite," and giving him
her hand she was about to go down, when suddenly withdrawing it, as if
recollecting herself, she said, nodding with comic significance toward
her sister Julia--"My sister, Mr. English, have you no gallantry for
her?"

"Ah," he whispered, at the same time gratefull