them from care of all sorts, as well as jealousy."

"I don't mane that," said the skeleton; "ha, ha! you're a funny
gentleman, and maybe I--but no--I don't mane that; but widout injurin' a
hair in either o' their heads."

"I am not married," said the other, "but I expect to be soon, and when
I am I will pay you well for the knowledge of that herb--for my wife, I
mean. Where do you live?"

"In Rathfillan, sir. I'm a well-known man there, and for many a long
mile about it."

"You must be very useful to the country people hereabouts?"

"Ay," he exclaimed, "you mane to the poor, I suppose, and you're right;
but maybe I'm of sarvice to the rich, too. Many a face I save from--I
could save from shame, I mane--if I liked, and could get well ped for
it, too. Some young, extravagant people that have rich ould fathers do
be spakin' to me, too; but thin, you know, I have a sowl to be saved,
and am a religious man, I hope, and do my duty as sich, and that every
one that has a sowl to be saved, may! _Amin, acheernah!_

"I am glad to find that your sense of duty preserves you against such
strong temptations."

"Then, there's another set of men--these outlaws that do be robbin' rich
people's houses, and they, too, try to tempt me."

"Why should they tempt you?"

"Bekaise the people, now knowin' that they're abroad, keep watch-dogs,
bloodhounds, and sich useful animals, that give the alarm at night, and
the robbers wishin', you see, to get them out of the way, do be temptin'
me about wishin' me to pison them."

"Of course you resist them?"

"Well, I hope I do; but sometimes it's hard to get over them, especially
when they plant a _skean_ or a _middogue_ to one's navel, and swear
great oaths that they'll make a scabbard for it of my poor ould bulg
(belly)--I say, when the thieves do the business that way, it requires
a grate dale of the grace o' God to deny them. But what's any Chr'sthen
'idout the grace o' God? May we all have it! _Amin, acheernah!_"

"Well, when I marry, as I will soon, I'll call upon you; I dare say my
wife will get jealous, for I love the ladies, if that's a fault."

Another grin was his first reply to this, after which he said:

"Well, sir, if she does, come to me."

"Where in Rathfillan do you live?"

"O, anybody will tell you; inquire for ould Sol Donnel, the yarrib man,
and you'll soon find me out."

"But 'suppose I shouldn't wish it to be known that I called on you?"

"Eh?" said the old v