s he has to be in London to-morrow, and this morning my
daughter has sworn obedience. . . . What's that, Monsignor? Not
obedience exactly? Something like it then, so she's bound to go along
with him. So fill up your glasses to the brim and drink to the bride and
bridegroom."

As soon as the noise made by the passing of decanters had died down my
father spoke again.

"This is the proudest day of my life. It's the day I've worked for and
slaved for and saved for, and it's come to pass at last."

There was another chorus of applause.

"What's that you were saying in church, Mr. Curphy, sir? Time brings in
its revenges? It does too. Look at me."

My father put his thumbs in the arm-pits of his waistcoat.

"You all know what I am, and where I come from."

My husband put his monocle to his eye and looked up.

"I come from a mud cabin on the Curragh, not a hundred miles from here.
My father was kill . . . but never mind about that now. When he left us
it was middling hard collar work, I can tell you--what with me working
the bit of a croft and the mother weeding for some of you--some of your
fathers I mane--ninepence a day dry days, and sixpence all weathers.
When I was a lump of a lad I was sworn at in the high road by a
gentleman driving in his grand carriage, and the mother was lashed by
his . . . but never mind about that neither. I guess I've hustled round
considerable since then, and this morning I've married my daughter into
the first family in the island."

There was another burst of cheering at this, but it was almost drowned
by the loud rattling of the rain which was now falling on the lantern
light.

"Monsignor," cried my father, pitching his voice still higher, "what's
that you were saying in Rome about the mills of God?"

Fumbling his jewelled cross and smiling blandly the Bishop gave my
father the familiar quotation.

"Truth enough, too. The mills of God grind slowly but they're grinding
exceeding small. Nineteen years ago I thought I was as sure of what I
wanted as when I got out of bed this morning. If my gel here had been
born a boy, my son would have sat where his lordship is now sitting. But
all's well that ends well! If I haven't got a son I've got a son-in-law,
and when I get a grandson he'll be the richest man that ever stepped
into Castle Raa, and the uncrowned king of Ellan."

At that there was a tempest of cheers, which, mingling with the clamour
of the storm, made a deafening tumult.