Jemmy Burke, though in many respects a man of easy and indolent character, was nevertheless a person who, as is familiarly! said, “always keep an eye to the main chance.” He was by no means over-tidy either in his dress or farming; but it mattered little in what light you contemplated him, you were always certain to find him a man not affected by trifles, nor rigidly systematic in anything; but at the same time you could not help observing that he was a man of strong points, whose life was marked by a course of high prosperity, that seemed to flow in upon him, as it were, by some peculiar run of good fortune. This luck, however, was little less than the natural result of shrewd mother-wit, happily applied to the: ordinary transactions of life, and assuming the appearance of good fortune rather than of sound judgment, in consequence of the simplicity of character under which it acted. Ever since the night of the robbery, he had devoted himself more to the pipe than he had ever been known to do before; he spoke little, too; but what he did say was: ironical, though not by any means without a tinge of quiet but caustic humor. Hycy, on entering the parlor, found him! seated in an arm-chair, smoking as usual, whilst his mother, who soon came down stairs, appeared dressed in more than her usual finery. “What keeps Patsy Dolan wid the car?” she inquired. “Hycy, do you see any appearance of him?” “No, ma'am,” replied the son; “I didn't know you wanted him.” Jemmy looked at her with a good deal of surprise, and, after whiffing away the smoke, asked--“And well, Rosha--begs pardon--Mrs. Burke--is it a fair question to ax where you are bound for?” “Fair enough, Mr. Burke,” she replied; “but I'm not goin' to answer it.” “You're bound for a journey, ma'am, I think?” “I'm bound for a journey, sir.” “Is it a long journey, Mrs. Burke?” “No, indeed; it's a short journey, Mister Burke.” “Ah!” replied her husband, uttering a very significant groan; “I'm afraid it is.” “Why do you groan, Mr. Burke?” “Oh it doesn't signify,” he replied, dryly; “it's no novelty, I believe, to hear a man--a married man--groan in this world; only if you wor for a long journey, I'd be glad to give you every assistance in my power.” “You hear that, Hycy; there's affection?” she exclaimed--“wishin' me to go my long journey!” “Would you marry again, Mr. Burke?” asked the worthy son. “I think not,” replied Jemmy. “There's gintlemen enough o' the name--I'm afraid one too many.” “Well,” exclaimed his wife, assuming something as near to her conception of the look of a martyr as possible, “I'm sufferin' at all events; but I know my crown's before me.” “Sich as it is,” replied her husband, “I dare say it is.” “I'll not be back for a few hours, Hycy; an'--but here's the car. Come fardher up, Patsy.” Hycy politely handed his mother out, and assisted her on the car. “Of course, he'll discover it all,” said he, laughing.