an instant; the next, Hewitt had caught the
half-swooning Katey's hand and led her forward.

"'_D-d-dom-dominus adimp-p-p-lea bened-d-dic_ (hic!) _benedictionem suam
in v-v-v-obis!_ (hic!)" stutteringly whispered the new-comer, while the
powerful smell of whisky-punch, which began to pervade the apartment, bore
far less testimony to his piety than to his potations.

"Douce your lingo!" muttered Hewitt. "Keep it till 'tis called
for.----Now, my own dear Katey," he said in his most persuasive tone, "let
this moment make you mine--mine indissolubly. Come, Father Larr,[25] there
is not an instant to spare--do your office;" and supporting Katey, and
half-forcibly, half-entreatingly, bringing her forward, he stood with her
before the priest--if indeed it is right to profane that name by
conferring it on the drunken and dissolute creature, who, long since
expelled from the altar, was forced to depend for a livelihood on his
services in such desperate hours of need as the present.

"Oh, Hewitt, give me a moment--my father--Lysaght--I did not look for
this"--murmured the agitated bride.

"Then such is your faith after all?" whispered Hewitt; "but as you
please--even here--at this moment I give you up for ever, since you desire
it."

"No--it is God's will--there is no use in struggling against my fate--I am
ready," she answered, endeavouring to rouse her stupified faculties.

"Go on, then," whispered her lover to the priest, "be quick!"

"_Co--co--conjungo vos_," began Father Larr as he joined their hands, "_in
nom--nom_--(hic!)--_nomine P--p--patris_ (hic!) _et
F--f--f--fil_--(hic!)"--

The rest of his articulation was effectually stopped by his receiving,
full in the face, the contents of what he felt to be a basin of cold
water, conferred, it appeared to him, by the hands of the timid bride;
while, at the same time, a voice that split the very room like thunder
saluted the group with a blessing from the Virgin and St Patrick, and
Sally-the-tin stood beside them, who, however, no sooner recognised
Hewitt, with whose grasp she had before now been familiar, than she set up
a shriek in which entreaty, benediction, curse, complaint, and
consternation, were so vociferously blended that it would have alarmed
Erebus. The next instant the whole house above and around them was heard
in commotion; bells rung, and were instantly answered by the noise of
heavy bodies jumping out of bed; windows raising; servant-women squalling;
a