y hint, in a feigned voice, to call for
"Devil stick the Fiddler," alluding to the master. Now a squeaking voice
would chime in; by and by another, and so on until the master's bass had
a hundred and forty trebles, all in chorus to the same tune.

Just at this moment the two gentlemen altered; and, reader, you may
conceive, but I cannot describe, the face which Mat (who sat with his
back to the door, and did not; see them until they were some time in the
house), exhibited on the occasion. There he sung ore rotundo, throwing
forth an astonishing tide of voice; whilst little Dick, a thin,
pale-faced urchin, with his head, from which the hair stood erect,
sunk between his hollow shoulders, was performing prodigious feats of
agility.

"What's the matter? what's the matter?" said the gentlemen. "Good
morning, Mr. Kavanagh!"

----Tooral lol, lol----

Oh, good---Oh, good morning---gintlemen, with extrame kindness,"
replied Mat, rising suddenly up, but not removing his hat, although the
gentlemen instantly uncovered.

"Why, thin, gintlemen," he continued, "you have caught us in our little
relaxations to-day; but--hem!--I mane to give the boys a holiday for the
sake of this honest and respectable gintleman in the frize jock, who is
not entirely ignorant, you persave, of litherature; and we had a small
taste, gintlemen, among ourselves, of Sathurnalian licentiousness,
_ut ita dicam_, in regard of--hem!--in regard of this lad here, who was
dancing a hornpipe upon the door, and we, in absence of betther music,
had to supply him with the harmony; but, as your honors know, gintlemen,
the greatest men have bent themselves on espacial occasions."

"Make no apology, Mr. Kavanagh; it's very commendable in you to bend
yourself by condescending to amuse your pupils."

"I beg your pardon, Squire, I can take freedoms with you; but perhaps
the concomitant gentleman, your friend here, would be pleased to take
my stool. Indeed, I always use a chair, but the back of it, if I may, be
permitted the use of a small portion of jocularity, was as frail as the
fair sect: it went home yisterday to be mended. Do, sir, condescind
to be sated. Upon my reputation, Squire, I'm sorry that I have not
accommodation for you, too, sir; except one of these hassocks, which, in
joint considheration with the length of your honor's legs, would be,
I anticipate, rather low; but you, sir, will honor me by taking the
stool."

By considerable importunity he forc