marriage
did not turn out right it was the drink."

"Ah, the drink--the drink," said the priest, and he declared that the
brewer and the distiller were the ruin of Ireland.

"That's true for you; at the same time we musn't forget that they have
put up many a fine church."

"It would be impossible, I suppose, to prohibit the brewing of ale and
the distillation of spirit." The priest's brother was a publican and
had promised a large subscription. "And now, Biddy, what are you going
to give me to make the walls secure. I don't want you all to be killed
while I am away."

"There's no fear of that, your reverence; a church never fell down on
anyone."

"Even so, if it falls down when nobody's in it where are the people to
hear Mass?"

"Ah, won't they be going down to hear Mass at Father Stafford's?"

"If you don't wish to give anything say so."

"Your reverence, amn't I--?"

"We don't want to hear about that window."

Biddy began to fear she would have to give him a few pounds to quiet
him. But, fortunately, Pat Connex came up the road, and she thought she
might escape after all.

"I hear, Pat Connex, you were dancing with Kate Kavanagh, I should say
Kate M'Shane, and she went away to America this morning. Have you heard
that?"

"I have, your reverence. She passed me on the road this morning."

"And you weren't thinking you might stop her?"

"Stop her," said Pat. "Who could stop Kate from doing anything she
wanted to do?"

"And now your mother writes to me, Pat Connex, to ask if I will get
Lennon's daughter for you."

"I see your reverence has private business with Pat Connex. I'll be
going," said Biddy, and she was many yards down the road before he
could say a word.

"Now, Biddy M'Hale, don't you be going." But Biddy pretended not to
hear him.

"Will I be running after her," said Pat, "and bringing her back?"

"No, let her go. If she doesn't want to help to make the walls safe I'm
not going to go on my knees to her. ... You'll all have to walk to
Father Stafford's to hear Mass. Have you heard your mother say what
she's going to give towards the new church, Pat Connex?"

"I think she said, your reverence, she was going to send you ten
pounds."

"That's very good of her," and this proof that a public and religious
spirit was not yet dead in his parish softened the priest's temper,
and, thinking to please him and perhaps escape a scolding, Pat began to
calculate how much Biddy had saved.

"She m