ader knows, was
every way in accordance with Fardorougha's inclination. Connor
himself would have preferred his mother's advocacy to that of a person
possessing such a slender hold on their good-will as his other parent.
But upon consulting with her, she told him that the fact of the proposal
coming from Fardorougha might imply a disposition on his part to provide
for his son. At all events, she hoped that contradiction, the boast
of superior wealth, or some fortunate collision of mind and principle,
might strike a spark of generous feeling out of her husband's heart,
which nothing, she knew, under strong excitement, such as might arise
from the bitter pride of the O'Brien's, could possibly do. Besides, as
she had no favorable expectations from the interview, she thought it an
unnecessary and painful task to subject herself to the insults which she
apprehended from the Bodagh's wife, whose pride and importance towered
far and high over those of her consequential husband.

This just and sensible view of the matter, on the part of the mother,
satisfied Connor, and reconciled him to the father's disinclination
to be accompanied by her to the scene of conflict; for, in truth,
Fardorougha protested against her assistance with a bitterness which
could not easily be accounted for. "If your mother goes, let her go by
herself," said he; "for I'll not interfere in't if she does. I'll take
the dirty Bodagh and his fat wife my own way, which I can't do if Honor
comes to be enibbin' and makin' little o' me afore them. Maybe I'll pull
down their pride for them better than you think, and in a way they're
not prepared for; them an' their janting car!"

Neither Connor nor his mother could help being highly amused at the
singularity of the miserable pomp and parsimonious display resorted to
by Fardorougha, in preparing for this extraordinary mission. Out of an
old strongly locked chest he brought forth a gala coat, which had
been duly aired, but not thrice worn within the last twenty years. The
progress of time and fashion had left it so odd, outre, and ridiculous,
that Connor, though he laughed, could not help feeling depressed on
considering the appearance his father must make when dressed, or rather
disfigured, in it. Next came a pair of knee--breeches by the same hand,
and which, in compliance with the taste of the age that produced them,
were made to button so far down as the calf of the leg. Then appeared a
waistcoat, whose long p