ave the case in
my hands, along wid a small thrifle o' silver that didn't signify much
to you--whoo! not at all: you'd rather play it at cards, or dhrink it,
or spind it wid no good. Out o' joint! nrasha, if ever a man's nose was
to be pitied, and yours is: why, didn't Mike Reillaghan put it out o'
joint, twist? first in regard to Peggy, and secondly by the batin' he
gave you an it."

"It's well known, Darby," replied Frank, "that 'twas by a chance blow he
did it; and, you know, a chance blow might kill the devil."

"But there was no danger of Mike's gettin' the chance blow," observed
the sarcastic vagrant, for such he was.

"Maybe it's afore him," replied his companion: "we'll have another
thrial for it, any how; but where are you goin', Darby? Is it to the
dance?"

Me! Is it a man "wid two holy ordhers an him?* No, no! I might go up,
may be, as far as your father's, merely to see the family, only for the
night that's in it; but I'm goin' to another frind's place to spind my
Chris'mas, an' over an' above, I must go to the Midnight Mass. Frank,
change your coorses, an' mend your life, an' don't be the talk o' the
parish. Remimber me to the family, an' say I'll see them soon."

* The religious orders, as they are termed, most
commonly entered into by the peasantry, are those of
the Scapular and St. Francis. The order of Jesus--or
that of the Jesuits, is only entered into by the clergy
and the higher lay classes.

"How long will you stop in the neighborhood?" inquired Frank.

"Arrah why, acushla?" replied the mendicant, softening his language.

"I might be wantin to see you some o' these days," said the other:
"indeed, it's not unlikely, Darby; so don't go, any how, widout seein'
me."

"Ah!" said Darby, "had you taken a fool's advice--but it can't be helped
now--the harm's done, I doubt; how-an'-ever, for the matther o' that,
may be I have as good as Peggy in my eye for you; by the same token, as
the night's could, warm your tooth, avick; there's waker wather nor
this in Lough Mecall. Sorra sup of it over I keep for my own use at all,
barrin' when I take a touch o' configuration in my bowels, or, may
be, when I'm too long at my prayers; for, God help me, sure I'm but
sthrivin', wid the help o' one thing an' another, to work out my
salvation as well as I can! Your health, any how, an' a merry Chris'mas
to you!--not forgettin' myself," he added, putting to his lips a large
cow's horn, wh