s, "this gentleman is speaking to you."

"And why not?" continued his Eeverence, who was so closely engaged with
Phaddhy, that he did not even hear the nephew's appeal--"a bishop--and
why not? Has he not as good a chance of being a bishop as any of them?
though, God knows, it is not always merit that gets a bishopric in any
church, or I myself might--But let that pass." said he, fixing his eyes
on the bottle. "Father Philemy," said Father Con, "Captain Wilson was
addressing himself to you in a most especial manner."

"Oh! Captain, I beg ten thousand pardons, I was engaged talking with
Phaddhy here about his son, who is a young shaving of our cloth, sir, he
is intended for the Mission*--Phaddhy, I will either examine him myself,
or make Father Con examine him by-and-by.--Well, Captain?" The Captain
now repeated what he had said.

* The Church of Rome existing in any heretical country--
that is, where she herself is not the State church--is
considered a missionary establishment; and taking
orders in her is termed "Going upon the Mission." Even
Ireland is looked upon as _in partibus infidelium_,
because Protestantism is established by law--hence the
phrase above.

"Very true, Captain, and we do see it in as many shapes as ever--Con,
what do you call him?--put on him."

"Proteus," subjoined Con, who was famous at the classics.

Father Philemy nodded for the assistance, and continued--"but as for
human nature, Captain, give it to me at a good rousing christening;
or what is better again, at a jovial wedding between two of my own
parishioners--say this pretty fair-haired daughter of Phaddhy Shemus
Phaddhy's here, and long Ned Slevin, Parrah More's son there--eh
Phaddhy, will it be a match?--what do you say, Parrah More? Upon my
veracity I must bring that about."

"Why, then, yer Reverence," replied Phaddhy, who was now a little
softened, and forgot his enmity against Parrah More for the present,
"unlikelier things might happen."

"It won't be my fault," said Parrah More, "if my son Ned has no
objection."

"He object!" replied Father Philemy, "if' I take it in hands, let me see
who'll dare to object; doesn't the Scripture say it? and sure we can't
go against the Scripture."

"By the by," said Captain Wilson, who was a dry humorist, "I am happy to
be able to infer from what you say, Father Philemy, that you are not, as
the clergymen of your church are supposed to be, inimical to t