. Dr. Dodd says
to me, 'Terry,' says he, 'you had never much brains in your best days,
but now you 're only a sheet of thin paper removed from an idiot, and if
you touch spirits it's all up with you.'"

"That was plain speaking, anyhow," said Kellett, smiling.

"Yes," said Driscoll, while he seemed struggling to call up some
reminiscence: and then, having succeeded, said, "Ay, 'There's
five-and-twenty in Swift's this minute,' said he, 'with their heads
shaved, and in blue cotton dressing-gowns, more sensible than yourself.'
But, you see, there was one thing in my favor,--I was always harmless."

The compassionate expression with which Kellett listened to this
declaration guaranteed how completely the speaker had engaged his
sympathy.

"Well, well," continued Driscoll, "maybe I'm just as happy, ay, happier
than ever I was! Every one is kind and good-natured to me now. Nobody
takes offence at what I say or do; they know well in their hearts that I
don't mean any harm."

"That you don't," broke in Bella, whose gratitude for many a passing
word of kindness, as he met her of a morning, willingly seized upon the
opportunity for acknowledgment.

"My daughter has often told me of the kind way you always spoke to her."

"Think of that, now," muttered Terry to himself; "and I saying all the
while to my own heart, ''T is a proud man you ought to be to-day, Terry
Driscoll, to be giving good-morning to Miss Kellett of Kellett's Court,
the best ould blood in your own county.'"

"Your health, Driscoll,--your health," cried Kellett, warmly. "Let your
head be where it will, your heart's in the right place, anyhow."

"Do you say so, now?" asked he, with all the eagerness of one putting a
most anxious question.

"I do, and I 'd swear it," cried Kellett, resolutely. "'Tis too clever
and too 'cute the world's grown; they were better times when there was
more good feeling and less learning."

"Indeed--indeed, it was the remark I made to my sister Mary the night
before last," broke in Driscoll. "'What is there,' says I, 'that
Miss Kellett can't teach them? They know the rule of three and What
's-his-name's Questions as well as I know my prayers. You don't want
them to learn mensuration and the use of the globes?' 'I 'll send them
to a school in France,' says she; 'it's the only way to be genteel.'"

"To a school in France?" cried Bella; "and is that really determined
on?"

"Yes, miss; they 're to go immediately, and ye see tha