n.

"There's the governor," said Aby, who was then flirting with Miss
O'Dwyer in the bar. "Somebody's been stroking him the wrong way of
the 'air."

The charms of Miss O'Dwyer in these idle days had been too much for
the prudence of Mr. Abraham Mollett; by far too much, considering
that in his sterner moments his ambition led him to contemplate a
match with a young lady of much higher rank in life. But wine, which
"inspires us" and fires us

"With courage, love, and joy,"

had inspired him with courage to forget his prudence, and with love
for the lovely Fanny.

"Now, nonsense, Mr. Aby," she had said to him a few minutes before
the wheels of the covered car were heard in South Main Street. "You
know you main nothing of the sort."

"By 'eavens, Fanny, I mean every word of it; may this drop be my
poison if I don't. This piece of business here keeps me and the
governor hon and hoff like, and will do for some weeks perhaps; but
when that's done, honly say the word, and I'll make you Mrs. M. Isn't
that fair now?"

"But, Mr. Aby--"

"Never mind the mister, Fan, between friends."

"La! I couldn't call you Aby without it; could I?"

"Try, my darling."

"Well--Aby--there now. It does sound so uppish, don't it? But tell
me this now; what is the business that you and the old gentleman is
about down at Kanturk?"

Abraham Mollett hereupon had put one finger to his nose, and then
winked his eye.

"If you care about me, as you say you do, you wouldn't be shy of just
telling me as much as that."

"That's business, Fan; and business and love don't hamalgamate like
whisky and sugar."

"Then I'll tell you what it is, Mr. Aby; I don't want to have
anything to do with a man who won't show his rispect by telling me
his sacrets."

"That's it, is it, Fan?"

"I suppose you think I can't keep a sacret. You think I'd be telling
father, I suppose."

"Well, it's about some money that's due to him down there."

"Who from?"

"He expects to get it from some of those Fitzgerald people."

In saying so much Mr. Mollett the younger had not utterly abandoned
all prudence. He knew very well that the car-driver and others would
be aware that his father had been to Castle Richmond; and that it was
more than probable that either he or his father would have to make
further visits there. Indeed, he had almost determined that he would
go down to the baronet himself. Under these circumstances it might be
well that some pretex