nobody that knew the poor pedagogue could ever
dream of using it towards him, and there is little doubt that the
consciousness of this caused him to give his tongue a license when
provoked, which he otherwise would not have dared to venture upon.
When he first made his appearance he was so far advanced in liquor as
scarcely to be able to stand, and it was quite evident that the heat of
the crowded house by no means improved him.

In about a quarter of an hour after Bryan and Kathleen had danced, the
good people of the kemp were honored by the appearance of Hycy Burke
among them--not in his jockey dress, but in a tight-fitting suit, that
set off his exceedingly well-made person to great advantage. In
fact, Hycy was a young fellow of a remarkably handsome face, full
of liveliness and apparent good humor, and a figure that was nearly
perfect. He addressed the persons present with an air of easy
condescension, and went over immediately and shook hands, in a very
cordial manner, with Gerald Cavanagh and his wife, after which he turned
round and bowed to the daughters. He then addressed Bryan, beside whom
Kathleen was sitting.

"Bryan," said he, "there will be mistakes in the best of families. I
hate enmity. How, do you do?"

Bryan nodded, and replied, "Pretty well, Hycy--how are you?"

Cavanagh and his wife were evidently quite delighted to see him; the
good man rose and made him take his own seat, and Mrs. Cavanagh paid him
every conceivable mark of attention.

"Mrs. Cavanagh," said he, after some chat, "may I be permitted to
indulge in the felicity of a dance with Miss Cavanagh?"

"Which of them?" asked the mother, and then added, without waiting for a
reply--"to be sure you may."

"The felicity of a dance! that was well expressed, Mr. Hycy; but it
was not for nothing that you broke grammatical ground under Patricius
Finigan--ah, no; the early indoctrinations will tell;--that is clear."

"I mean Miss Kathleen," replied Hycy, without paying any attention to
Finigan's observations.

"Why not?" exclaimed both; "of course you will--go over and bring her
out."

Hycy, approaching her, said, in his blandest and most persuasive manner,
"Miss Cavanagh, will you allow me the gratification of dancing a reel
with you?"

"I'm obliged to you, Mr. Burke," she replied gravely; "I have just
danced a reel with Bryan M'Mahon here, and I don't intend to dance any
more to-night."

"A simple reel?" said Hycy; "perhaps you will