not being a calf, Denis."

"Well then, yer honer, I'll jist go and spake to Father Cullen.
Though he is not so good-humoured like,--at least, he don't be always
laughing at a boy."

"Come back, McGovery, and don't be a fool. Father Cullen's gone to
Dromod. I think I heard him say Tom Ginty wanted him."

"Is it Tom Ginty? but shure what would Tom be doing with Father
Cullen? wouldn't he be going to his own priest? Well, what time will
yer riverence come up to Pat Brady's to-morrow?"

"Well, get the mutton done about seven to-morrow evening, and I'll be
with you. But you'll ask Tom Ginty, eh?"

"Sorrow a foot, then!"

"Nor Betsy Cane, Denis?"

"It ar'nt for me to ax the company, Father John, but if Betsy likes
to come up and shake her feet and take her sup, she's welcome for
me."

"That's kind of you; and you know you could be asking after the--"

"Well then, Father John, may it be long before I spake another word
to you, barring my sins!"

"Well, Denis, I've done. But, look ye now you've a good supper for
the boys, and lots of the stuff, I'll go bail. Let there be plenty of
them in it, and don't let them come with their pockets empty. By dad,
they think their priest can live on the point without the potatoes."

"Oh, Father John, Pat says there'll be plenty of them in it, and a
great wedding he says he'll make it: there's a lot of the boys over
from Mohill is to be there."

"From Mohill, eh? then they've my leave to stay away; I don't care
how little I see of the boys from Mohill. Why can't he get his
company from Drumsna and the parish?"

"Oh shure, yer riverence, an' he'll do that too; won't there be all
the Ballycloran tenants, and the boys and girls from Drumleesh?"

"Oh, yes, Drumleesh; Drumleesh is as bad as Mohill; I'm thinking it's
those fellows in Drumleesh that make Mohill what it is; but I suppose
Pat Brady would tell me he has a right to choose his own company."

"Oh, Pat would not tell your riverence the like of that."

"And he's the boy that would do it, directly. And mind this,
McGovery, you've the name of a prudent fellow--when you're once
married, the less you see of your brother-in-law the better, and
stick to your work in Drumsna."

"And so I manes. Oh, yer riverence, they won't be making me be
wasting my hard arned wages at Mrs. Mulready's. Pat wanted me to be
there last night of all, as I was coming out of the fair; but, no,
says I; if ye'd like to see yer sister respectable, do