pression of opinion.

"Bless us an' save us!" exclaimed a voice in the passage, and the
door, being thrown wide open, revealed the portly form and scandalised
face of no less a person than Mrs. McNally herself.

"Who is it that's cursin' an swearin' that way?" she began, but broke
off abruptly as she realised the scene within.

"Oh, a'nt, me heart's broke entirely!" cried Elleney, running to her,
and hiding her face on her ample shoulder.

Pat cleared his throat diffidently, insensibly relaxing his grip the
while, so that, with a slight effort, Brian was enabled to roll him on
to the floor, and to rise, looking very sheepish.

"Was it fightin' the two of yez was?" said Mrs. McNally severely.
"Sure, that's a disgrace. Look at your coat all over dust, Mr.
Brennan, and the big lump on your forehead risin' up the size of an
egg!"

Brian squinted over his shoulder to ascertain the condition of his
coat, but being unable to carry out the rest of Mrs. McNally's
injunctions and survey the lump on his own forehead, he passed his
hand over it instead, and turned towards Pat with an expression of
virtuous indignation.

"That fellow there was near bein' the death of me," he exclaimed.

"Musha! what is it all about at all?" queried Mrs. McNally. "Elleney,
quit cryin' an' tell me what happened ye? What was that impident
fellow Pat doin' rollin' Mr. Brennan on the floor?"

Elleney shook her head, and wept, and nearly throttled her aunt, but
entered on no explanation.

Quick steps were now heard in the passage, and Anna Maria burst in.

"What in the world is Elleney cryin' for?" she exclaimed; "an'
goodness gracious! look at Mr. Brennan, the show he is! Is it up the
chimney ye were? For the matter of that Pat isn't much better. What's
all this, m'mah?"

"I'm sure I couldn't tell ye, me dear," returned her mother. "I can't
get a word o' sense out of any of them. Brian Brennan here says that
Pat is afther bein' the death of him."

"Ah, then now," cried Anna Maria sarcastically, "isn't he very
delicate, the poor fellow, to be so near made an end of by a little
fellow half his size!"

"I was took by surprise," explained Mr. Brian, with dignity, "or I
could easy have settled him with one finger."

"Well, but what call had ye to go doin' it, Pat?" insisted Anna Maria.
"'Twasn't your place to go knocking a visitor down, I think."

"I'm very sorry, miss, if ye think I'm afther takin' a liberty,"
returned Pat firmly; "but I