ask is now over, Miss Norah; and, in requital
for your extrame good nature, I am bound to administer to you a slight
lecture on decorum.

"In the first place, attend your duties regularly. I will soon be
goin' to Maynooth; an' as you are one of the girls for whom I have the
greatest regard, I will expect on my return to hear a good account
of you. It is possible that you'll be introduced in my absence to the
honors of matrimony; but even so, I know that peace, an' taciturnity,
an' submission will be your most signal qualifications. You will then be
in a situation equal to that of a Roman matron. As for us, Miss Norah,
we are subject to the dilapidations of occasional elevation.
The ambrosia of sentiment lies in our path. We care not for the
terrestrialities of life, when separated from the great principle of the
poet--

'_Omnia vincit amor, et nos cedamus amori_.'

That's Hebrew, Miss Norah!"

"They say you know a power of larnin', Misther Dinis."

"Yes, I know the seven languages; but what is all that compared to the
cardinal virtues. This world is a mere bird of passage, Miss Norali; and
it behooves us to be ever on the wing for futurity and premeditation.
Now, will you remember the excellent moral advice I have given you?"

"Indeed I will, sir," replied the roguish minx, tripping away;
"particularly that you promised to marry me for nothin' if I'd give you
a kiss!"

"Give up everything like levity, Miss Norah. Attend your du--"

[Illustration: PAGE 985-- You're a fool, Misther O'Shaughnessy!]

"You're a fool, Misther O'Shaughnessy! Why didn't you take the kiss, an'
spare the king's English?"

On making this observation she redoubled her pace, and left Denis now
perfectly sensible that he was a proper subject for her mirth. He turned
about, and called after her--

"Had I known that you were only in jocosity, Miss Nora, upon my
classicality, I'd have given you the k----."

He now perceived that she was beyond hearing, and that it was
unnecessary to finish the sentence.

These accidental meetings between Denis and the pretty daughters of the
neighboring farmers were, somehow, very frequent. Our hero, however, was
always extremely judicious in tempering his gallantry and moral advice
to his young female acquaintances. In the beginning of the conversation
he was sly and complimentary, afterwards he became more insinuating,
then more direct in his praises of their beauty; but as his timidity on
the poi