Well, after we had supped, Master Dick sends for me to come up stairs; and as it was too soon to go to bed, down we sate over a hot tumbler to settle what was to be done when we got to London. Ye see, we knew that in England there were heiresses _galore_ *--but the thing was, how the divil were we to find them? * Anglicê--In plenty. Well, after we had been talkin’ half an hour, in comes the waiter. “Is there one Mister Macnamara here?” says he. “That’s me,” Dick answers. “Mister Callaghan’s after askin’ for ye,” says he. “Parade him,” says Dick. So in steps an ould gentleman, clane shaved enough, but about the clothes, he had rather a shuck appearance. He bows, and Dick bows--and down sits the ould gentleman, an’ draws over a tumbler. “Ye had a pleasant journey of it, Mister Macnamara,” says he, commencin’ the conversation. “My daughter says that ye’re the best of company. In troth, she spakes large of ye.” With that they drinks one another’s health--an’ from one thing they comes on to another. I had pulled my chair away to the corner, ye see, but Dick winked to me as much as to say, “Shemus, stay where ye are.” “An’ so ye’re goin’ to better yourself with a wife?” says the ould fellow. “There’s no denyin’ it,” says Dick. “Well, ‘pon my conscience, it’s the best thing ivir a young man did, for it keeps him out of harm’s way. An’ are ye for soon changin’ ye’r state?” “Divil a use tellin’ lies among friends,” says Dick. “The sooner the better.” “Feath--an’ it has come rather sudden upon Sophy,” says Mister Callaghan. “But, God’s will be done! Her brother will be home in an hour. I wish there was only time to send for her mother to Roscrea.” “What’s wanted with her mother?” says Dick. “Nothin’ partikler,” says Mr. Callaghan, “only the ould lady would like to see her little girl married.” “An’ when is she to be married?” inquired Dick. “Why, as there seems to be a hurry,” replies the ould fellow, “it may as well be done ‘out of the face.’” “An’ if it wouldn’t be an impertinent question,” says Dick, “arrah! who’s to be the happy man?” “An’ are ye jokin’?” says ould Callaghan. “Arrah, who should it be, but yourself?” “Myself?” says Dick. “Shemus,” says he--“the divil an appearance of liker’s on the ould man, what does he mane at all?” “Of coorse,” says I, “that ye’re goin’ to marry his daughter. “Exactly,” cried ould Callaghan. “If she’s not married till she marries me, she’ll be single for a month of Sundays,” says Dick. Up jumps the ould fellow in a rage--and up jumps Dick Macnamara--and then such fendin’ and provin’, and such racketting through the room--till out rushed Mister Callaghan, swarin’ he would be revenged before he slept. “When he slammed to the door, I turns round to Dick, to ask what it was all about? “Arrah, the divil have them that knows,” says he; “I just coorted a little bit with the girl as we were alone in the coach, by the way of bringin’ my han’ in before we got to England.”