_Catty._ There he stands--now, Pat, you must stand or fall--will you swear to what you said? (_Old McBRIDE and PHIL approach PAT._) _Mr. Carv._ This is not the point before me; but, however, I waive that objection. _Randal._ Oh! mother, don’t put him to his oath, lest he’d perjure himself. _Pat._ I’ll swear: do you think I’d be making a liar of myself? _Honor._ Father--Phil dear--hear me one word! _Randal._ Hear her--oh! hear her--go to her. _Honor._ (_in a low voice_) Would you ask at what time it was he pretends I was taking the ring and all that? _Old McB._ Plase your honour, would you ask the rascal what time? _Mr. Carv._ Don’t call him rascal, sir--no _rascals_ in my presence. What time did you see Honor McBride behind the chapel, Pat Coxe? _Pat._ As the clock struck twelve--I mind--by the same token the workmen’s bell rang as usual! that same time, just as I seen Mr. Randal there putting the ring on her finger, and I said, “_There’s the bell ringing for a wedding_,” says I. _Mr. Carv._ To whom did you say that, sir? _Pat._ To myself, plase your honour--I’ll tell you the truth. _Honor._ Truth! That time the clock struck twelve and the bell rang, I was happily here in this house, sir. _Honor._ If I might take the liberty to call one could do me justice. _Mr. Carv._ No liberty in justice--speak out. _Honor._ If I might trouble Mrs. Carver herself? _Mr. Carv._ Mrs. Carver will think it no trouble (_rising with dignity_) to do justice, for she has been the wife to one of his majesty’s justices of the peace for many years. [_Sends a servant for Mrs. CARVER._ _Mr. Carv._ Mrs. Carver, my dear, I must summon you to appear in open court, at the suit or prayer of Honor McBride. _Enter Mrs. CARVER, who is followed by Miss BLOOMSBURY, on tiptoe._ _Mrs. Carv._ Willingly. _Mr. Carv._ The case lies in a nutshell, my dear: there is a man who swears that Honor McBride was behind the chapel, with Randal Rooney putting a ring on her finger, when the clock struck twelve, and our workmen’s bell rang this morning. Honor avers she was at Bob’s Fort with you: now as she could not be, like a bird, in two places at once--was she with you? _Mrs. Carv._ Honor McBride was with me when the workmen’s bell rang, and when the clock struck twelve, this day--she stayed with me till two o’clock. [_All the ROONIES, except CATTY, exclaim--_ Oh, no going beyond the lady’s word! _Mrs. Carv._ And I think it but justice to add, that Honor McBride has this day given me such proofs of her being a good girl, a good daughter, and a good sister, that she has secured my good opinion and good wishes for life. _Mr. Carv._ And mine in consequence. _Bloom._ And mine of course. [_HONOR curtsies._ [_Old McBRIDE bows very low to Mr. CARVER, and again to Mrs. CARVER. PHIL bows to Mr. and Mrs. CARVER, and to Miss BLOOMSBURY._ _Old McB._ Where are you now, Catty?--and you, Pat, ye unfortinate liar?