d my spur brightened as jinteely as you can, for I
must go in as much state and grandeur as possible." Accordingly, in due
time, after hearing the De Profundis, which Denis read in as sonorous a
tone, and as pompous a manner, as he could assume, they went to bed for
the night, to dream of future dignities for their relative.

When Denis appeared the next morning, it was evident that the spirit
of prophecy in which he had contemplated the enjoyments annexed to his
ideal station on the preceding night, had departed from him. He was pale
and anxious, as in the early part of the,previous evening. At breakfast,
his very appetite treacherously abandoned him, despite the buttered
toast and eggs which his mother forced upon him with such tender
assiduity, in order, she said, to make him stout against the Bishop.
Her solicitations, however, were vain; after attempting to eat to no
purpose, he arose and began to prepare himself for his journey. This,
indeed, was a work of considerable importance, for, as they had no
looking-glass, he was obliged to dress himself over a tub of water, in
which, since truth must be told, he saw a very cowardly visage. In due
time, however, he was ready to proceed upon his journey, apparelled in a
new suit of black that sat stiffly and awkwardly upon him, crumpled in
a manner that enabled any person, at a glance, to perceive that it was
worn for the first time. When he was setting out, his father approached
him with a small jug of holy water in his hand. "Denis," said he, "I
think you won't be the worse for a sprinkle of this;" and he accordingly
was about to shake it with a little brush over his person, when Denis
arrested his hand.

"Easy, father," he replied, "you don't remember that my new clothes are
on. I'll just take a little with, my fingers, for you know one drop is
as good as a thousand."

"I know that," said the father, "but on the other hand you know it's not
lucky to refuse it."

"I didn't refuse it," rejoined Denis, "I surely took a quantum suff. of
it with my own hand."

"It was very near a refusal," said the father, in a disappointed and
somewhat sorrowful tone; "but it can't be helped now. I'm only sorry
you put it and quantum suff. in connection at all. Quantum suff. is what
Father Finnerty says, when he will take no more punch; and it doesn't
argue respect in you to make as little of a jug of holy wather as he
does of a jug of punch."

"I'm sarry for it too," replied Denis,