ed, 'that what occurred yesterday will
prevent you from entering into their quarrels in future. Indeed, I shall
not give over, until I prevail on you to lead a quiet and peaceable
life, as the father of a rising family ought to do.'

"'Denis,' said the wife, when I alluded to the children, looking at
him with a reproachful and significant expression--'Denis, do you hear
that!--the father of a family, Denis! Oh, then, God look down on that
family; but it's--Musha, God bless you and yours, sir,' said she to me,
dropping that part of the subject abruptly; 'it's kind of you to trouble
yourself about him, at all at all: it's what them that has a better
right to do it, doesn't do.'

"'I hope,' said I, 'that Denis's own good sense will show him the folly
and guilt of his conduct, and that he will not, under any circumstances,
enter into their battles in future. Come, Denis, will you promise me
this?'

"'If any man,' replied Denis, 'could make me do it, it's yourself, sir,
or any one of your family; but if the priest of the parish was to go
down on his knees before me, I wouldn't give it up till we give them
vagabone Caseys one glorious battherin,' which, plase God, we'll do, and
are well able to do, before a month of Sundays goes over us. Now, sir,
you needn't say another word,' said he, seeing me about to speak; 'for
by Him that made me we'll do it! If any man, I say, could persuade me
agin it, you could; but, if we don't pay them full interest for what we
got, why my name's not Denis Kelly--ay, sweep them like varmint out of
the town, body and sleeves!'

"I saw argument would be lost on him, so I only observed, that I feared
it would eventually end badly.

"'Och, many and many's the time, Mr. Darcy,' said Honor, 'I prophesied
the same thing; and, if God hasn't said it, he'll be coming home a
corpse to me some day or other; for he got as much bating, sir, as
would be enough to kill a horse; and, to tell you God's truth, sir, he's
breeding up his childher--'

"'Honor,' said Kelly, irritated, 'whatever I do, do I lave it in your
power to say that I'm a bad husband? so don't rise me by your talk, for
I don't like to be provoked. I know it's wrong, but what can I do? Would
you have me for to show the Garran-bane,* and lave them like a cowardly
thraitor, now that the other faction is coming up to be their match?
No; let what will come of it, I'll never do the mane thing--death before
dishonor!'

* The white horse, i.