“Mr. O'Shaughnessy, I congratulate you upon the event of this auspicious day! I wish you joy and happiness!” “So do we all, over and over agin!” they exclaimed; “a proud gintleman he may be this night!” “I thank you, Father Finnerty,” said Denis, “and I thank you all!” “Denis, avourneen,” said his mother, “sit down an' ate a hearty dinner; you must be both tired and hungry, so sit down, avick, and when you're done you can tell us all.” “_Bonum concilium, mi chare Dionysi_--the advice is good, Mrs. O'Shaughnessy, and I myself will, in honor of this day, although I have already dined, just take another slice;” and as he spoke he helped himself. “Anything to honor a friend,” he continued; “but, by the by, before I commence, I will try your own prescription, Denis--a whetter of this poteen at intervals. Hoch, that's glorious stuff--pure as any one of the cardinal virtues, and strong as fortitude, which is the champion of them all.” Denis, during these pleasant observations of the priest, sat silent, with a countenance pale and apparently dejected. When his mother had filled his plate, he gently put it away from him; but poured out a little spirits and water, which he drank. “I cannot eat a morsel,” said he; “mother, don't press me, it's impossible. We are all assembled here--friends, neighbors, and relations--I'll not disguise the fact--but the truth is, I have been badly treated this day; I have been, in the most barefaced manner, rejected by the Bishop, and a nephew of Father Molony's elected in my place.” The effect which this disclosure produced upon the company present, especially upon his own family, utterly defies description. His father hastily laid down his glass, and his eyes opened to the utmost stretch of their lids; his mother let a plate fall which she was in the act of handing to one of her daughters, who was about to help a poor beggar at the door; all convivial enjoyment was suspended; the priest laid down his knife and fork, and fixed his large eyes upon Denis, with his mouth full; his young sister, Susan, flew over to his side, and looked intensely into his countenance for an explanation of what he meant, for she had not properly understood him. “Rejected!” exclaimed the priest--“rejected! Young man, I am your spiritual superior, and I command you, on this occasion, to practise no jocularity whatsoever--I lay it upon you as a religious duty to be serious and candid, to speak truth, and inform us at once whether what you have advanced be true or not?” “I wish,” said Denis, “that it was only jocularity on my part; but I solemnly assure you all that it is not. The Bishop told me that I suffered myself to be misled as to my qualifications for entrance; he says it will take a year and a half's hard study to enable me to matriculate with a good grace. I told him that your Reverence examined me, and said I was well prepared; and he said to me, in reply, that your Reverence was very little of a judge as to my fitness.”