ly kissed the Quaker?' and I ask it, Dandy, bekaise we are in
a religious way, and have a quakers' meetn' in the coach."

"No," replied Dandy; "but I'll give you the 'Bonny brown Girl,' that's
worth a thousand of it, you thief."

"Bravo, Dandy, and so it is; and, as far as I can see in the dark, dang
my buttons, but I think we have one here, too."

"I thank you for the compliment, sir," said Alley, appropriating it
without ceremony to herself. "I feel much obliged to you, sir; but I'm
not worthy of it."

"My darling," replied the jolly farmer, "you had betther not take me up
till I fall. How do you know it was for you it was intended? You're not
the only lady in the coach, avourneen."

"And you're not the only gintleman in the coach, Jemmy Doran," replied
Alley, indignantly. "I know you well, man alive--and you picked up your
politeness from your cattle, I suppose."

"A better chance of getting it from them than from you," replied, the
hasty grazier. "But I tell you at once to take it aisy, achora; don't
get on fire, or you'll burn the coach--the compliment was not intended
for you, at all events. Come, Dandy, give us the 'Bonny brown Girl,' and
I'll help you, as well as I'm able."

In a moment the dulcimer was at work on the top of the coach, and the
merry farmer, at the top of his lungs, lending his assistance inside.

When the performance had been concluded, Alley, who was brimful of
indignation at the slight which had been put upon her, said, "Many
thanks to you, Misther Doran, but if you plaise we'll dispense wid your
music for the rest of the journey. Remember you're not among your own
bullocks and swine--and that this roaring and grunting is and must be
very disagreeable to polite company."

"Troth, whoever you are, you have the advantage of me," replied the
good-natured farmer, "and besides I believe you're right--I'm afraid
I've given offince; and as we have gone so far--but no, dang my buttons,
I won't--I was going to try 'Kiss my Lady,' along wid Dandy, it goes
beautiful on the dulcimer--but--but--ah, not half so well as on a purty
pair of lips. Alley, darlin'," he proceeded now, evidently in a maudlin
state, "I never lave you, but I'm in a hurry home to you, for it's your
lips that's--"

"It's false, Mr. Doran," exclaimed Alley; "how dare you, sir, bring my
name, or my lips either, into comparishment wid yourself? You want to
take away my character, Mr. Doran; but I have friends, and a strong
fac