so much the
better."

"I fear I cannot, Mr. Finnerty, but I dare say my brother will do
himself the pleasure of dining with you."

"It cannot be for at least six weeks, Mr. Finnerty," said the Bishop.
"You forget that the confirmations begin in ten days; but I shall have
the pleasure of dining with you when I come to confirm in your parish."

"Phoo! Why, Doctor, that's a matter of course. Couldn't your lordship
make it convenient to come during the week, and bring the Counsellor
here with you? Don't say no, Counsellor; I'll have no demurring."

"Mr. Finnerty," said the Bishop, "it is impossible at present. My
brother goes to Dublin to-morrow, and I must go on the following day to
attend the consecration of a chapel in the metropolis."

"Then upon my credit, your lordship will get neither the name nor
description of my Facia, until you earn it by eating a dinner, and
drinking a glass of claret with the Rev. Father Finnerty. Are those hard
terms, Counsellor?--Ha! ha! ha! I'm not the man to put off a thing, I
assure you."

"Mr. Finnerty," said the Bishop, smiling at, but not noticing the worthy
priest's blunder about the Fucia, "if possible, I shall dine with you
soon; but at present it is out of my power to appoint a day."

"Well, well, Doctor, make your own time of it; and now for the
purport of our journey. Denis O'Shaughnessy here, my lord, is a warm,
respectable parishioner of mine--a man indeed for whom I have a great
regard. He is reported to have inherited from his worthy father, two
horns filled with guineas. His grandmother, as he could well inform your
lordship, was born with a lucky caul upon her, which caul is still in
the family. Isn't it so, Denis?"

"My lord, in dignity, it's truth," replied Denis, "and from the time it
came into the family they always thruv, thanks be to goodness!"

The lawyer sat eyeing the priest and Denis alternately, evidently
puzzled to comprehend what such a remarkable introduction could lead to.

The Bishop seemed not to be surprised, for his features betrayed no
change whatsoever.

"Having, therefore, had the necessary means of educating a son for the
church, he has accordingly prepared this young man with much anxiety and
expense for Maynooth."

"Plase your lordship," said Denis, "Docthor Finnerty is clothin' it
betther than I could do. My heart is fixed upon seein' him what we all
expect him to be, your lordship."

"Mr. Finnerty," observed the Bishop, "you seem to