r or mother," replied Toal, once more
resuming the sugar-candy style, "she can't be anything else than a
beauty, It's well known that sich a couple never stood undher the roof
of Aughindrummon Chapel, nor walked the street of Ballykeerin."

Frank winked at Art, who, instead of returning the wink, as he ought
to have done, shut both his eyes, and then looked at Toal with an
expression of great compassion--as if he wished to say, Poor fellow, I
don't think he can be so bad-hearted as the world gives him credit for.

"Come, Toal," he replied, laughing, "none of your bother now. Ay was
there, many a finer couple under the same roof, and on the same street;
so no palaver, my man; But are you prepared to stand for the girsha? You
know it's nearly a month since I axed you?"

"To be sure I am; but who's the midwife?"

"Ould Kate Sharpe; as lucky a woman as ever came about one's house."

"Throth, then, I'm sorry for that," said Toal, "for she's a woman I
don't like; an' I now say beforehand, that devil a traneen she'll be the
betther of me, Art."

"Settle that," replied Art, "between you; at all events, be ready on
Sunday next--the christenin's fixed for it."

After some farther chat, Toal, who, we should have informed our readers,
had removed from his father's old residence into Ballykeerin, took his
departure, quite proud at the notion of being a godfather at all; for in
truth it was the first occasion on which he ever had an opportunity of
arriving at that honor.

Art was a strictly conscientious man; so much so, indeed, that he never
defrauded a human being to the value of a farthing; and as for truth,
it was the standard principle of his whole life. Honesty, truth, and
sobriety are, indeed, the three great virtues upon which all that
is honorable, prosperous, and happy is founded. Art's conscientious
scruples were so strong, that although in point of fact the term of his
oath had expired at twelve o'clock in the forenoon, he would not permit
himself to taste a drop of spirits until after twelve at night.

"It's best," said he to his brother, "to be on the safe side at all
events: a few hours is neither one way nor the other. We haven't now
more than a quarther to go, and then for a tight drop to wet my whistle,
an' dhrink the little girshas health an' her mother's. Throth I've put
in a good apprenticehip to sobriety, anyhow. Come, Madjey," he added,
addressing the servant-maid, "put down the kettle till we have a l