s McGovery wanting to see yer
riverence, below then."

People in Connaught always call the hall, door, and passage "below,"
the parlour, or sitting-room, "above," though, in nine cases out of
ten, they are on the same floor.

"Why, then, Judy," said Father John, with his mouth full, "bad
manners to them; mayn't I eat a bit of breakfast in peace and quiet?
There was I at the widow Byrne's all night, destroyed with the cold,
and nothing the matter with her at last, and now I must lose my
breakfast, as well as my sleep."

"It's nothing of that sort, I'm thinking, Father John, but Denis
McGovery is afther going to get married, I hear."

"Oh," exclaimed Father John, "that's a horse of another colour; going
to get married, is he? and why shouldn't he, and he able to support a
wife? let him come in, Judy."

It will be remembered that the "above" and "below" in the priest's
house were only terms of compliment, and, as Denis McGovery was
standing in the hall,--that is, at the open door of the very room in
which Judy McCan had been announcing his attendance,--he, of course,
had heard what had passed; therefore, when Father John said "let him
come in," he wanted no further introduction, but, thrusting himself
just through the door, and taking hold of a scanty lock of hair on
his forehead, by way of reverential salutation, he said, "Iss, yer
honor."

Now, laconic as this was, it was intended to convey, and did convey,
a full assent not only to Judy's assertion that he was "afther going
to get married," but also to the priest's remark, that there was no
good reason on earth why he shouldn't, seeing that he was able to
support a family.

"Iss, yer honor," said Denis McGovery.

"Well, Denis--that'll do, Judy," meaning that Judy need not listen
any longer, at any rate within the room--"so you are going to get
married, are you?"

"Didn't Father Cullen say anything to your riverence about it, then?"

"Oh, yes, he did then; I didn't remember it just at first, when Judy
mentioned your name."

"Iss, yer riverence; if ye plaze, I am going to be married."

The bridegroom in this case was a man about forty years of age, who
seemed, certainly, never to have eaten the bread of idleness, for
he was all gristle and muscle; nor had he; he was a smith living in
Drumsna, and the reputed best shoer of horses in the neighbourhood;
and consequently was, as the priest had said, able to maintain a
family: in fact, Denis had the reputation