. Yet you're all flyin' at
me, as if I had three heads or three tails upon me."

"Maybe the poor boy's not so much to blame," said Mrs. Doran. "There's
hussies in this world," and here she threw an angry eye upon the other
two, "that 'ud give a man no pace till he'd promise to marry them."

"Why did he promise to them that didn't want him thin?" exclaimed
Donovan. "I'm not angry that he didn't marry my daughther--for I
wouldn't give her to him now--but I am at the slight he put an her."

"Paddy Donovan, did you hear what I said jist now?" replied Phelim, "I
wish to Jamini some people 'ud have sinse! Be them five crasses, I knew
thim I intinded to marry, as well as I do where I'm standin'. That's
plain talk, Paddy. I'm sure the world's not passed yet, I hope"--(a wink
at Paddy Donovan.)

"An' wasn't he a big rascal to make little of my brother's daughter as
he did?" said Flattery; "but he'll rub his heels together for the same
act."

"Nick Flathery, do you think I could marry three wives? Be that
horseshoe over the door, Sally Flathery, you didn't thrate me dacent.
She did not, Nick, an' you ought to know that it was wrong of her to
come here to-day."

"Well, but what do you intind to do Phelim, avourn--you profligate?"
said the half-angry, half-pacified housekeeper, who, being the veteran,
always led on the charge. "Why, I intind to marry one of you," said
Phelim. "I say, Mrs. Doran, do you see thim ten fingers acrass--be thim
five crasses I'll do what I said, if nothing happens to put it aside."

"Then be an honest man," said Flattery, "an' tell us which o' them you
will marry."

"Nick, don't you know I always regarded your family. If I didn't that
I may never do an ill turn! Now! But some people can't see anything.
Arrah, fandher-an'-whiskey, man, would you expect me to tell out before
all that's here, who I'll marry--to be hurtin' the feelin's of the rest.
Faith, I'll never do a shabby thing."

"What rekimpinse will you make my daughter for bringin' down her name
afore the whole parish, along wid them she oughtn't to be named in the
one day wid?" said Donovan.

"An' who is that, Paddy Donovan?" said the housekeeper, with a face of
flame.

"None of your broad hints, Paddy," said Nick. "If it's a collusion to
Sally Flattery you mane, take care I don't make you ate your words."

"Paddy," exclaimed Phelim, "you oughtn't to be hurtin' their
feelin's!"--(a friendly wink to Paddy.)

"If you mane me," said t