“My father is,” replied John; “have the goodness to step in.” Fardorougha entered immediately, followed by young O'Brien, who said, “Father, this is Mr. O'Donovan, who, it appears, has some important business with the family.” “Don't be mistherin' me,” replied Fardorougha, helping himself to a seat; “I'm too poor to be misthered.” “With this family!” exclaimed the father in amazement; “what business can Fardorougha Donovan have with this family, John?”' “About our children,” replied the miser; “about my son and your daughter.” “An' what about them?” inquired Mrs. O'Brien; “do you dar to mintion them in the same day together?” “Why not,” said the miser; “ay, an' on the same night, too?” “Upon my reputaytion, Mr. O'Donovan, you're extramely kind--now be a little more so, and let us undherstand you,” said the Bodagh. “Poor Una!” thought John, “all's lost; he will get himself kicked out to a certainty.” “I think it's time we got them married,” replied Fardorougha; “the sooner it's done the better, and the safer for both o' them; especially for the colleen.” “_Dar a Lorha_, he's cracked,” said Mrs. O'Brien; “sorra one o' the poor soul but's cracked about his money.” “Poor sowl, woman alive! wor you never poor yourself?” “Yis I wor; an' I'm not ashamed to own it; but, Chierna, Frank,” she added, addressing her husband, “there's no use in spakin' to him.” “Fardorougha,” said O'Brien, seriously, “what brought you here?” “Why, to tell you an' your wife the state that my son, Connor, and your daughter's in about one another; an' to advise you both, if you have sinse, to get them married afore worse happen. It's your business more nor mine.” “You're right,” said the Bodagh, aside to his wife; “he's sartinly deranged. Fardorougha,” he added, “have you lost any money lately?” “I'm losin' every day,” said the other; “I'm broke assistin' them that won't thank me, let alone paying me as they ought.” “Then you have lost nothing more than usual?” “If I didn't, I tell you there's a good chance of losin' it before me;--can a man call any money of his safe that's in another man's pocket?” “An' so you've come to propose a marriage between your son and my daughter, yet you lost no money, an' you're not mad!” “Divil a morsel o' me is mad--but you'll be so if you refuse to let this match go an.” “Out wid him--_a shan roghara_,” shouted Mrs. O'Brien, in a state of most dignified offence; “_Damho orth_, you ould knave! is it the son of a miser that has fleeced an' robbed the whole counthry side that we 'ud let our daughther, that resaved the finish to her edication in a Dubling boardin' school, marry wid?--_Vic na hoiah_ this day!” “You had no sich scruple yourself, ma'am,” replied the bitter usurer, “when you bounced at the son of the ould Bodagh Buie, an' every one knows what he was.”