ar," said the priest.

"But I mane the wine and the mutton," says Phaddhy.

"And is that the way you treat me, you reprobate you?" replied his
Reverence in a passion: "is that the kind of attention you're paying me,
and I, advising you, all this time, for the good of your soul? Phaddhy,
I tell you, you're enough to vex me to the core--five years!--only once
at confession in five years! What do I care about your mutton and your
wine!--you may get dozens of them if you wish; or, may be, it would be
more like a Christian to never mind getting them, and let the neighbors
laugh away. It would teach you humility, you hardened creature, and God
knows you want it; for my part, I'm speaking to you about other things;
but that's the way with the most of you--mention any spiritual subject
that concerns your soul, and you turn a deaf ear to it--here, Dolan,
come in to your duty. In the meantime, you may as well tell Katty not
to boil the mutton too much; it's on your knees you ought to be at your
rosary, or the seven penitential psalms, any way."

"Thrue for you, sir," says Phaddhy; "but as to going wanst a month,
I'm afeard, your Rev'rence, if it would shorten my timper as it does
Katty's, that we'd be bad company for one another; she comes home from
confession, newly set, like a razor, every bit as sharp; and I'm sure
that I'm within the truth when I say there's no bearing her."

"That's because you've no relish for anything spiritual yourself, you
nager you," replied his Reverence, "or you wouldn't see her temper in
that light--but, now that I think of it, where did you get that stuff we
had at breakfast?"

"Ay, that's the sacret; but I knew your Rev'rence would like it; did
Parrah More aiquil it? No, nor one of his faction couldn't lay his
finger on such a dhrop."

"I wish you could get me a few gallons of it," said the priest; "but let
us drop that; I say, Phaddhy, you're too worldly and too careless about
your duty."

"Well, Father Philemy, there's a good time coming; I'll mend yet."

"You want it, Phaddhy."

"Would three gallons do, sir?"

"I would rather you would make it five, Phaddhy; but go to your rosary."

"It's the penitential psalms, first, sir," said Phaddhy, "and the rosary
at night. I'll try, anyhow; and if I can make off five for you, I will."

"Thank you, Phaddhy; but I would recommend you to say the rosary before
night."

"I believe yer Reverence is right," replied Phaddhy, looking somewhat
slyl