was imbued with the necessity of taking some great step. He had gone
down to take this great step, and Aby was very anxious to know how it
had been taken.

When the father and son were both sober, or when the son was tipsy,
or when the father was absolutely drunk--an accident which would
occur occasionally, the spirit and pluck of the son was in the
ascendant. He at such times was the more masterful of the two, and
generally contrived, either by persuasion or bullying, to govern his
governor. But when it did happen that Mollett pere was half drunk
and cross with drink, then, at such moments, Mollett fils had to
acknowledge to himself that his governor was not to be governed.

And, indeed, at such moments his governor could be very
disagreeable--could say nasty, bitter things, showing very little
parental affection, and make himself altogether bad society, not only
to his son, but to his son's companions also. Now it appeared to Aby
that his father was at present in this condition.

He had only to egg him on to further drinking, and the respectable
gentleman would become stupid, noisy, soft, and affectionate. But
then, when in that state, he would blab terribly. It was much with
the view of keeping him from that state, that under the present
circumstances the son remained with the father. To do the father
justice, it may be asserted that he knew his own weakness, and that,
knowing it, he had abstained from heavy drinking since he had taken
in hand this great piece of diplomacy.

"But you must be hungry, governor; won't you take a bit of
something?"

"Shall we get you a steek, Mr. Mollett?" asked Miss O'Dwyer,
hospitably, "or just a bit of bacon with a couple of eggs or so? It
wouldn't be a minute, you know?"

"Your eggs are all addled and bad," said Mr. Mollett; "and as for a
beef-steak, it's my belief there isn't such a thing in all Ireland."
After which civil speech, Miss O'Dwyer winked at Aby, as much as to
say, "You see what a state he's in."

"Have a bit of buttered toast and a cup of tea, governor," suggested
the son.

"I'm d---- if I do," replied the father. "You're become uncommon fond
of tea of late--that is, for other people. I don't see you take much
of it yourself."

"A cup of tay is the thing to warm one afther such a journey as
you've had; that's certain, Mr. Mollett," said Fanny.

"Them's your ideas about warming, are they, my dear?" said the
elderly gentleman. "Do you come and sit down on my