“Well, all I say is, that it's makin' little of one Phelim O'Toole, that hasn't a thought in his body but what's over head an' ears in love wid you. I must only dhrink it for you myself, thin. Here's all kinds o' good fortune to us! Now, Peggy,--sit closer to me acushla!--Now, Peggy, are you fond o' me at all? Tell thruth, now.” “Fond o' you! Sure you know all the girls is fond of you. Aren't you the boy for deludin' them?--ha, ha, ha?” “Come, come, you shaver; that won't do. Be sarious. If you knew how my heart's warmin' to you this minute, you'd fall in love wid my shadow. Come, now, out wid it. Are you fond of a sartin boy not far from you, called Bouncin' Phelim?” “To be sure I am. Are you satisfied now? Phelim! I say,”-- “Faith, it won't pass, avourneen. That's not the voice for it. Don't you hear me, how tendher I spake wid my mouth brathin' into your ear, _acushla machree?_ Now turn about, like a purty entisin' girl, as you are, an' put your sweet bill to my ear the same way, an' whisper what you know into it? That's a darlin'! Will you, achora?” “An' maybe all this time you're promised to another?” “Be the vestments, I'm not promised to one. Now! Saize the one!” “You'll say that, anyhow!” “Do you see my hands acrass? Be thim five crasses, I'm not promised to a girl livin', so I'm not, nor wouldn't, bekase I had you in my eye. Now will you tell me what I'm wantin' you? The grace o' Heaven light down an you, an' be a good, coaxin darlin' for wanst. Be this an' be that, if ever you heerd or seen sich doin's an' times as we'll have when we're marrid. Now the weeny whisper, a colleen dhas.” “It's time enough yet to let you know my mind, Phelim. If you behave yourself an' be-----Why thin is it at the bottle agin you are? Now don't dhrink so much, Phelim, or it'll get into your head. I was sayin' that if you behave yourself, an' be a good boy, I may tell you somethin' soon.” “Somethin' soon! Live horse, an' you'll get grass! Peggy, if that's the way wid you, the love's all on my side, I see clearly. Are you willin' to marry me, anyhow?” “I'm willin' to do whatsomever my father an' mother wishes.” “I'm for havin' the weddin' off-hand; an' of coorse, if we agree to-night, I think our best plan is to have ourselves called on Sunday. An' I'll tell you what, avourneen--be the holy vestments, if I was to be 'called' to fifty on the same Sunday, you're the darlin' I'd marry.” “Phelim, it's time for us to go up to the fire; we're long enough here. I thought you had only three words to say to me.” “Why, if you're tired o' me, Peggy, I don't want you to stop. I wouldn't force myself on the best girl that ever stepped.”