passed out of the room,
scarcely sensible whether she walked, ran, or flew, while the others
went to renew the discussion with Pardorougha.

"Well," said the miser, "you found out, I suppose, that she can't do
widout him?"

"Provided we consent to the marriage," asked the Bodagh, "how will you
settle your son in life?"

"Who would I settle in life if I wouldn't settle my only son?" replied
the other; "who else is there to get all I have?"

"That's very true," observed the Bodagh; "but state plainly what you'll
do for him on his marriage."

"Do you consint to the marriage all of yees?"

"That's not the question," said the other. "Divil a word I'll answer
till I know whither yees do or not," said Fardorougha. "Say at once that
you consint, and then I'll spake--I'll say what I'll do."

The Bodagh looked inquiringly at his wife and son. The latter nodded
affirmatively. "We do consent," he added.

"That shows your own sinse," said the old man. "Now what fortune will
you portion your colleen wid?"

"That depinds upon what you'll do for your son," returned the Bodagh.

"And that depinds upon what you'll do for your daughter," replied the
sagacious old miser.

"At this rate we're not likely to agree."

"Nothin's asier; you have only to spake out; besides it's your business,
bein' the colleen's father."

"Try him, and name something fair," whispered John.

"If I give her a farm of thirty acres of good land, stocked and all,
what will you do for Connor?"

"More than that, five times over; I'll give him all I have. An' now when
will we marry them? Throth it was best to make things clear," added the
knave, "and undherstand one another at wanst. When will we marry them?"

"Not till you say out openly and fairly the exact amount of money you'll
lay down on the nail--an' that before even a ring goes upon them."

"Give it up, acushla," said the wife, "you see there's no screwin' a
promise out of him, let alone a penny."

"What 'ud yees have me do?" said the old man, raising his voice. "Won't
he have all I'm worth? Who else is to have it? Am I to make a beggar of
myself to please you? Can't they live on your farm till I die, an' thin
it'll all come to them?"

"An' no thanks to you for that, Fardorougha," said the Bodagh. "No, no;
I'll never buy a pig in a poke. If you won't act generously by your son,
go home, in the name of goodness, and let us hear no more about it."

"Why, why?" asked the miser, "are yees mad