Phelim O'Shaughnessy was a clean-made, curly-pated, good-tempered little fellow, in a new flannel jacket, white apron, and duck trousers. His wife, Florence, was about his own size, no whit behind him in cleanliness, very pretty, and she had a voice--plaintive as a turtledove's. "--An' plase your honour," said she, "this is Phelim O'Shaughnessy, the husband to myself, that was when he married me; and is--barring the _bating_ he gave me yesterday, just for nothing at all, your honour, that I knows of--_ounly_ that he listens to bad folks, the neighbours of us; and bad folks they are sure enough, your honour, for that same; and your honour'll be plased just to do me the kindness to make them _hould_ their _pace_ and not be after taking away the senses of my _oun_ husband from me, to make him look upon me like a stranger, your honour--for what would I be then?" Poor Florence would have gone on murmuring forth her little griefs in this manner by the hour together, if his worship would have listened to her. But the office was crowded with business, and he reminded her that the warrant she had sued for, charged her husband with having beat her; and she must confine herself to making good that charge, if she wished to have him punished for so doing. "Your honour," said Florence, with a low courtesy, "it isn't myself that would hurt a hair of the head of him; _ounly_ that your honour would hear the rights of it, and tell Phelim he shouldn't be after _bating_ me for the likes of them. And here he is to the fore, your honour, for that same." The magistrate found it would be vain to think of hearing "the rights of it" from Florence; and therefore he asked Phelim what he had to say to it. Now Phelim was a man of few words. He had listened calmly to all Florence had been saying, and it was not till the magistrate had twice put the question to him, that he left off smoothing his dusty hat, and then, looking steadfastly in his worship's face, he replied, "Och! it's all about the threepence ha'penny, your honour. It was Saturday night when I gave her every farthing of the wages I earned that week--and so I does every Saturday night, come when it may, your honour--and when I ax'd her on Monday morning to give me threepence ha'penny, to get me a pint of beer and the little loaf, _bekase_ I was going to a long job in the city, and didn't know what time I'd be back to my _oun_ place, she wouldn't give it me any how, your honour; and sure I did give her a clout or two." "But you would not do so again, I am sure, Phelim," observed his worship. "You should remember that she is your wife, whom you have vowed to protect and cherish; and besides, you know it is disgraceful in any man to strike a woman--especially in an _Irishman_. You must give me your solemn promise, Phelim, that you will not strike her again."