least a
year and a half's study to enable you to enter Maynooth as I would wish
you. You may go home again,' said he; 'at present I have dismissed the
subject.'

"After this, on meeting Father Molony, he told me that his cousin had
passed, and that he would be soon sent up to Maynooth: so I concluded
all hope was over with me; but I didn't then know what the letter to
Father Finnerty contained. I now see that I may succeed still."

"You may and shall, Denis; but no thanks to Father Molony for that:
however, I shall keep my eye upon the same curate, never fear. Well, let
that pass, and now for harmony, conviviality, and friendship. Gentlemen,
fill your glasses--I mean your respective vessels. Come, Denis More, let
that porringer of yours be a brimmer. Ned Hanratty, charge your noggin.
Darby, although your mug wants an ear, it can hold the full of it. Mrs.
O'Shaughnessy, that old family cruiskeen ought to be with your husband:
but no matther--_non constat_--Eh? Dionysi? Intelligible?"

"_Intelligo, domine_."

"Here then is health, success, and prosperity to Mr. Dionysius
O'Shaughnessy, jun.! May he soon be on the Retreat in the vivacious
walls of that learned and sprightly seminary, Maynooth! * On the
Retreat, I say, getting fat upon half a meal a day for the first week,
fasting tightly against the grain, praying sincerely for a settin' at
the king's mutton, and repenting thoroughly of his penitence!"

* This is a passage which I fear few general readers
will understand without explanation; the meaning is
this:--When a young-man first enters Maynooth College
he devotes himself for the space of eight days to
fasting and prayer, separating himself as much as
possible from all society. He must review his whole
life, and ascertain, it he can, whether he has ever
left any sin of importance unconfessed, either
knowingly or by an emission that was culpably
negligent. After this examination, which must be both
severe and strict, he makes what is called a General
Confession; that is, he confesses all the sins he ever
committed as far back and as accurately as he can
recollect them. This being over, he enters upon his
allotted duties as a student and in good sooth feels
himself in admirable trim for "a set-in at the King's
Mutton."

"Well, Docthor, that is a toast. Denis, have you nothing to say to that?
Won't you stand up an' thank his R