at
you're the handsomest girl in the parish. Father Finnerty himself might
say as much, for it would be nothing but veracity--nothing but truth,
Miss Norah."

"Ah! but he wouldn't be pattin' me on the cheek! Be asy, Mr.
O'Shaughnessy; there's Darby Brady lookin' at you, an' he'll be
tellin'!"

"Where?" said Denis, starting.

The girl replied only by an arch laugh.

"Upon my classicality, Miss Norah, you're a rogue; there's nobody
lookin', you seraphim!"

"Then there's a pair of us rogues, Misther Dinis."

"No, no, Miss Norah; I was only feeling your cheek as a philosophical
experiment. Philosophers often do it, in order to make out an
hypothesis."

"Misther Dinis, if I'm not marrid till you're a priest, won't you say
the words for me for nothing?"

"So long as you ask it wid such a brilliant smiled Miss Norah, do
you think that any educated young man who has read about beauty an'
sentimentality in books, could refuse you? But you know, Miss Norah,
that the clergyman who marries a couple has always the right of kissing
the bride. Now I wouldn't claim my right then; but it might be possible
by a present compromise to--to----. What would you think, for instance,
to give me that now?"

"To give you what?"

"Why the----indeed it's but a slight recompense, the--k---- the
salutation--the kiss. You know what tasting the head means?"

"Faix, Misther Dinis, you're a great rogue. Who'd think it indeed? Sure
enough, they say smooth water runs deep! Why one 'ud suppose butther
wouldn't melt in your mouth to look at you; an' yet you want to be
toyin' wid the girls! Indeed an' faix, it's a great shame for the likes
o' you, that's bint on Maynooth, to be thinkin' of coortin' at all. But
wait! Upon my word, I'll have a fine story agin you, plase goodness!"

This latter threat the mischievous girl threw out with a grave face, in
order to bring Denis into a more ridiculous dilemma; for she saw clearly
that he labored under a heavy struggle between timidity and gallantry.
The ruse succeeded. Denis immediately changed his tone, and composed
his face into a grave admonitory aspect, nearly equal to a homily on
prudence and good conduct.

"Miss Norah," said he, "perhaps I acted wrong in carrying my trial
of your disposition too far. It's a thing, however, which we who are
intended for the church are ordered to do, that we may be able to
make out what are called in this very book you see wid me, cases of
conscience. But the t