e.
Ain't there Ella Flanagan for one maid, and Terence Driscol for a
footman? and it's well that he looks in his new uniform, when he comes
down for the newspapers; and ar'n't Moggy Cala there to cook the dinner,
and pretty Mary Sullivan for a nurse for the babby as soon as it comes
into the world.'

"`Is it Mary Sullivan, you mane?' says I; `she that was married about
three months back, and is so quick in child-getting, that she's all but
ready to fall to pieces in this same time?'

"`It's exactly she,' says Mrs O'Rourke; `and do you know the reason?'

"`Devil a bit,' says I; `how should _I_?'

"`Then it's just that she may send her own child away, and give her milk
to the English babby that's coming; because the lady is too much of a
lady to have a child hanging to her breast.'

"`But suppose Mary Sullivan's child ar'n't born till afterwards, how
then?' says I. `Speak, Mrs O'Rourke, for you're a sensible woman.'

"`How then?' says she. `Och! that's all arranged; for Mary says that
she'll be in bed a week before the lady, so that's all right, you'll
perceive, Father McGrath.'

"`But don't you perceive, sensible woman as you are, that a young woman,
who is so much out of her reckoning as to have a child three months
after her marriage, may make a little mistake in her lying-in
arithmetic, Mrs O'Rourke?'

"`Never fear, Father McGrath, Mary Sullivan will keep her word; and
sooner than disappoint the lady, and lose her place, she'll just tumble
downstairs, and won't that put her to bed fast enough?'

"`Well, that's what I call a faithful good servant that earns her
wages,' says I; `so now I'll just take another glass, Mrs O'Rourke, and
thank you too. Sure you're the woman that knows everything, and a
mighty pretty woman into the bargain.'

"`Let me alone now, Father McGrath, and don't be pinching me that way
anyhow.'

"`It was only a big flea that I perceived hopping on your gown, my
darling, devil anything else.'

"`Many thanks to you, father, for that same; but the next time you'd
kill my fleas, just wait until they're in a _more dacent_ situation.'

"`Fleas are fleas, Mrs O'Rourke, and we must catch 'em when we can, and
how we can, and as we can, so no offence. A good night's rest to you,
Mrs O'Rourke--when do you mean to confess?'

"`I've an idea that I've too many fleas about me to confess to you just
now, Father McGrath, and that's the truth on it. So a pleasant walk
back to you.'

"So you'll