ct of having left his rival
with Peggy Gartland. He ultimately determined that it would be proper
to do so; for he was shrewd enough to suspect that the wish Frank had
expressed of seeing him before he left the country, was but a ruse to
purchase his silence touching his appearance in the village. In this,
however, he was mistaken.

"God save the house!" exclaimed Darby, on entering--"God save the house,
an' all that's in it! God save it to the North!" and he formed the sign
of the cross in every direction to which he turned: "God save it to the
South! + to the Aiste! + and to the Waiste! + Save it upwards! + and
save it downwards! + Save it backwards! + and save it forwards! + Save
it right! + and save it left! + Save it by night! + save it by day! +
Save it here! + save it there! + Save it this way! + an' save it that
way! + Save it atin'! + + + an' save it drinkin'! + + + + + + + + _Oxis
Doxis Glorioxis_--Amin. An' now that I've blessed the place in the name
of the nine Patriarchs, how are yez all, man, woman, an' child? An' a
merry Christmas to yez, says Darby More!"

Darby, in the usual spirit of Irish hospitality, received a sincere
welcome, was placed up near the fire, a plate filled with the best food
on the table laid before him, and requested to want nothing for the
asking.

"Why, Darby," said Reillaghan, "we expected you long ago: why didn't you
come sooner?"

"The Lord's will be done! for ev'ry man has his throubles," replied
Darby, stuffing himself in the corner like an Epicure; "an' why should
a sinner like me, or the likes of me, be without thim? 'Twas a dhrame
I had last night that kep me. They say, indeed, that dhrames go by
contriaries, but not always, to my own knowledge."

"An' what was the dhrame about, Darby?" inquired Reillaghan's wife.

"Why, ma'am, about some that I see on this hearth, well, an' in good
health; may they long live to be so! Oxis Doxis Glorioxis--Amin!" + + +

"Blessed Virgin! Darby, sure it would be nothin' bad that's to happen?
Would it, Darby?"

"Keep yourself aisy on that head. I have widin my own mind the power of
makin' it come out for good--I know the prayer for it. Oxis Doxis!" + +

"God be praised for that, Darby; sure it would be a terrible business,
all out, if any thing was to happen. Here's Mike that was born on
Whissle * Monday, of all days in the year, an' you know, they say that
any child born on that day is to die an unnatural death. We named Mike
after