nd met the Doctor's smile with a guilty and foolish
grin, holding on with one hand to the end of the sofa. Tishy continued
to hold his other hand; he felt as if he should fall if she
relinquished it.

"Well, I suppose I may draw my own conclusions from what I see?" went
on the Big Doctor, in a voice that oozed fatherliness at every
syllable. "Eh, Larry?"

Larry swayed a little; his yellow hair was ruffled, his blue eyes
shone, he looked like a child who had just been awakened.

"Oh quite so, sir," he said, laughing. "Apparently it's the only thing
to do!" which was indisputable.

The bottle of champagne which had played its part so ably was finished
later on, and the engagement was ratified and celebrated with the pomp
that was its due.

CHAPTER XXXVII

Miss Letitia Mangan was a young woman of dauntless courage, who, as
has been said of the sect spoken of by detractors as The Black
Prozbytarians, feared neither God nor divil. To this rule there were,
however, in Tishy's case, two exceptions admitted, and of these, one
was her father, the other Father Greer. If, therefore, during the days
that followed, when the streets of Cluhir were, as it were, mined with
congratulations that exploded round her wherever and whenever she went
abroad, any shade of doubt, any tenuous memory of the foxy devil back
in Riverstown assailed her, she made haste to banish such with the
thoughts of Father Greer's pontifical approval, and of the warmth of
the paternal sunshine that now shone upon her and her _fiance_.

Cluhir said that it was a very nice engagement, and a great match;
there were not wanting those who said also that it was wonderful
promotion for that Tishy Mangan. A tactless ex-charwoman had even
referred to young Mr. Coppinger as being Miss Mangan's "up-raiser,"
and having enquired, with incredulity, of Mrs. Mangan ("and this
before a crowd in Egan's shop, if you please!" as Mrs. Mangan
reported) "Ma'am! are they in bonds?" she had so fervently thanked God
on hearing that such was the case, that Mrs. Mangan said she could
never enter Egan's again without she'd feel they were all laughing at
her!

Of the _fiance_ and of his frame of mind, what shall be said? He,
at all events, said as little to himself as was possible, but, in the
circumstances, it was no more than could be expected that a lively
fancy would not wholly be denied, and that occasional vagrant visions
would present themselves uninvited. He picture