"
her husband would reply.

"An' do you forget," she would rejoin, "that the M'Carthy dhrop is in
me; ay, an' it's to the good still."

And the old dame would accompany the boast with a fresh attempt at
agility; to which Paddy would respond by "cutting the buckle," and
snapping his fingers, whilst fifty voices, amidst roars of laughter,
were loud in encouraging each.

"Handle your feet, Kitty, darlin'--the mettle's lavin' him!"

"Off wid the brogues, Paddy, or she'll do you. That's it; kick off the
other, an' don't spare the flure."

"A thousand guineas on Katty! M'Carthy agin Gallagher for
ever!--whirroo!"

"Blur alive the flure's not benefittin by you, Paddy. Lay on it,
man!--That's it!--Bravo!--Whish!--Our side agin Europe!"

"Success, Paddy! Why you could dance the Dusty Miller upon a flure paved
wid drawn razures, you're so soople."

"Katty for ever! The blood's in you, Katty; you'll win the day, a _ban
choir!_ (* decent woman). More power to you!"

"I'll hould a quart on Paddy. Heel an' toe, Paddy, you sinner!"

"Right an' left, Katty; hould an', his breath's goin'."

"Right an' wrong, Paddy, you spalpeen. The whiskey's an you, man alive:
do it decently, an' don't let me lose the wager."

In this manner would they incite some old man, and, perhaps, his older
wife, to prolonged exertion, and keep them bobbing and jigging about,
amidst roars of laughter, until the worthy couple could dance no longer.

During stated periods of the night, those who took the most prominent
part in the dance, got a plate and hat, with which they went round the
youngsters, to make collections for the fiddler. Barny reserved his best
and most sarcastic jokes for these occasions; for so correct was
his ear, that he felt little difficulty in detecting those whose
contributions to him were such as he did not relish.

The aptitude of the Irish for enjoying humorous images was well
displayed by one or two circumstances which occurred on this night. A
few of both sexes, who had come rather late, could get no other seats
than the metal pots to which we have alluded. The young women were
dressed in white, and their companions, who were also their admirers,
exhibited, in proud display, each a bran-new suit, consisting of
broadcloth coat, yellow-buff vest, and corduroy small-clothes, with a
bunch of broad silk ribbons standing out at each knee. They were the
sons and daughters of respectable farmers, but as all distinctions here
e