“I'm sure, Phelim, I don't know; but he tould me, that if I was provided for, he'd be firm, an' take chance of his thrial. But, he says, poor man, that it 'ud break his heart to be thransported, lavin' me behind him wid' nobody to take care o' me.--He says, too, if anything 'ud make him stag, it's fear of the thrial goin' against himself; for, as he said to me, what 'ud become of you, Sally, if anything happened me?” A fresh flood of tears followed this disclosure, and Phelim's face, which was certainly destined to undergo on that day many variations of aspect, became remarkably blank. “Sally, you insinivator, I'll hould a thousand guineas you'd never guess what brought me here to-day?” “Arrah, how could I, Phelim? To plan some thin' wid my fadher, maybe.” “No, but to plan somethin' wid yourself, you coaxin' jewel you. Now tell me this--Would you marry a certain gay, roguish, well-built young fellow, they call Bouncin' Phelim?” “Phelim, don't be gettin' an wid your fun now, an' me in affliction. Sure, I know well you wouldn't throw yourself away upon a poor girl like me, that has nothin' but a good pair of hands to live by.” “Be me sowl, an' you live by them. Well, but set in case--supposin'--that same Bouncin' Phelim was willing to make you mistress of the Half Acre, what 'ud you be sayin'?” “Phelim, if a body thought you worn't jokin' them--ah, the dickens go wid you, Phelim--this is more o' your thricks--but if it was thruth you wor spakin', Phelim?” “It is thruth,” said Phelim; “be the vestment, it's nothin' else. Now, say yes or no; for if it's a thing that it's to be a match, you must go an' tell him that I'll marry you, an' he must be as firm as a rock. But see, Sally, by thim five crasses it's not bekase your father's in I'm marryin' you at all. Sure I'm in love wid you, acushla! Divil a lie in it. Now, yes or no?” “Well--throth--to be sure--the sorra one, Phelim, but you have quare ways wid you. Now are you downright in airnest?” “Be the stool I'm sittin' on!” “Well, in the name o' Goodness, I'll go to my father, an' let him know it. Poor man, it'll take the fear out of his heart. Now can he depind on you, Phelim?” “Why, all I can say is, that we'll get ourselves called on Sunday next. Let himself, sure, send some one to autorise the priest to call us. An' now that's all settled, don't I desarve somethin'? Oh, be gorra, surely.” “Behave, Phelim--oh--oh--Phelim, now--there you've tuck it--och, the curse o' the crows on you, see the way you have my hair down! There now, you broke my comb, too. Troth, you're a wild slip, Phelim. I hope you won't be goin' on this way wid the girls, when you get married.” “Is it me you coaxer? No, faith, I'll wear a pair of winkers, for fraid o' lookin' at them at all! Oh be gorra, no, bally, I'll lave that to the great people. Sure, they say, the divil a differ they make at all.”