ance
was over, how she stood leaning upon me, and my heart within melting to
her, and the look she'd give into my eyes and my heart, too, as much as
to say, 'This is the happy day with me;' and the blush still would
fly acrass her face, when I'd press her, unknownst to the bystanders,
against my beating heart. A _suilish machree_, (* Light of my heart.)
she is now gone from me--lies low, and it all appears like a drame to
me; but--hem--God's will be done!--sure she's happy--och, och!!

"Many a shake hands did I get from the neighbors' sons, wishing me joy;
and I'm sure I couldn't do less than thrate them to a glass, you know;
and 'twas the same way with Mary: many a neighbors' daughter, that she
didn't do more nor know by eyesight, maybe, would come up and wish
her happiness in the same manner, and she would say to me, 'Shane,
avourneen, that's such a man's daughter--they're a dacent friendly
people, and we can't do less nor give her a glass.' I, of coorse, would
go down and bring them over, after a little pulling--making, you see, as
if they wouldn't come--to where my brother was handing out the native.

"In this way we passed the time till the evening came on, except that
Mary and the bridesmaid were sent for to dance with the priests, who
were within at the punch, in all their glory,--Friar Rooney along
with them as jolly as a prince. I and my man, on seeing this, were for
staying with the company; but my mother, who 'twas that came for them,
says, 'Never mind the boys, Shane, come in with the girls, I say. You're
just wanted at the present time, both of you, follow me for an hour or
two, till their Reverences within have a bit of a dance with the girls,
in the back room; we don't want to gother a crowd about them.' Well, we
went in, sure enough, for awhile; but, I don't know how it was, I didn't
at all feel comfortable with the priests; for, you see, I'd rather sport
my day figure with the boys and girls upon the green: so I gives Jack
_the hard word_* and in we went, when, behold you, there was Father
Corrigan planted upon the side of a settle, Mary along with him, waiting
till they'd have the fling of a dance together, whilst the Curate was
capering on the flure before the bridesmaid, who was a purty dark-haired
girl, to the tune of 'Kiss my lady;' and the friar planted between my
mother and my mother-in-law, one of his legs stretched out on a chair,
he singing some funny song or other, that brought the tears to t