t was her ye'd
have for your wife," said Pat firmly. "Are ye goin' to stick to your
promise or are ye not?"

"Get up out o' that, ye ruffian," spluttered Brian. "What business is
it of yours anyway?"

"Ruffian yourself!" said Pat. And he heaved up Mr. Brennan's shoulders
a little way, and then loosed his hold suddenly, so that the fine
curly head bumped once more against the tin pails. "Will ye gi' me a
straight answer, or will ye not?"

"I'll pay ye out for this when I get upon my legs!" growled Brian. "As
for that young lady, she knows very well I can't--"

"Ye can't what?" cried Pat, rolling a threatening eye at him.

"I can't keep my word," said Mr. Brennan, with as much dignity as was
compatible with his position.

"Ye mean ye won't, I s'pose," remarked Pat, with ominous calm.

"Well, then, I won't!" shouted Brian, heaving himself up at the same
time with a futile attempt to rid himself of his adversary.

"Ah!" retorted Pat, tightening his grasp on the powerless shoulders,
and repeating his previous manoeuvre with such success that his victim
saw a multitude of stars. "Ye won't, won't ye? No; but ye will!--I
tell ye, ye will! Ye will, me fine gentleman!"

With each reiteration of the phrase the unfortunate Brian's head
received fresh damage, and Pat, who was warming to his work, had just
announced that he was going to give Mr. Brian the finest thrashing he
ever had in his life, when Elleney, who had hitherto been petrified
with alarm and amazement, rushed to the rescue.

"In the name o' goodness, Pat Rooney," she cried, in a voice that
trembled as much with anger as with fear, "get up this minute! It's
outrageous--altogether outrageous!"

"Never fear, Miss Elleney, asthore!" cried Pat triumphantly, baring
his arms the while for action. "Run away out o' this while I tache him
manners! The dirty spalpeen! He'll not have it all his own way,
anyhow. I'll give him a trimmin'!"

"I forbid ye, Pat, to do any such thing!" cried Elleney, almost with a
shriek. "I declare I'm ashamed o' my life! Who gave you leave to go
mixin' up my name?--makin' so little of me? Oh dear! oh dear!" and the
poor child began to sob again. "What have I done to be disgraced an'
tormented that way!"

Her blue eyes were drowned in tears, her pretty cheeks blanched.

Pat sat back on his prostrate foe, and stared up at her with
astonished concern. Elleney sobbed louder than before, and Brian,
raising his voice, uttered a forcible ex