"Faix, then, yer riverence," said Joe Reynolds from the bottom of the table, "you may tell by the way the boys take to the bottle, that they'll behave themselves dacently and discreatly, like Christians." "Indeed, then, Reynolds, where you are, and the whiskey with you, I believe there's likely to be little discretion but the discretion of drunkenness,--and not much of that." "Thank ye, Father John, and it's you have always the kind word for me." "But, Father John," began Mary, "you're not really going to go without so much as a tumbler of punch?" "Not a drop, Mary, my dear; I took my punch after dinner--and I can't stand too much. Good night, Feemy--you'll stay and have a dance I suppose; good night, Captain Ussher." And Father John got up from table, and went out of the room. As soon, however, as Denis saw that he was really going, he rose and followed him out of the door. "Sit down, Denis, sit down--don't be laving your company such a night as this." "But I want to have jist a word with yer riverence." "Well, what is it?" "Jist step outside then, Father John." "Well, Denis; is it anything about Betsy Cane? or has Ginty come home, and is he wanting the pigs?" "No, but would you just step outside here, Mr. McGrath; where those long-eared ruffians won't be hearing me?" and he and the priest walked a little distance from the door of Mrs. Mehan's house. "I'm afeard, Father John, them born divils from Drumleesh and Mohill, as Pat brought here to-night, are maning more than good to Captain Ussher." "And what makes you think that, Denis?" "Why, Father John, Mary was saying that Pat towld her a lot of his own frinds would be up with him, and that if they war talking together, she and those as are with her dancing and the like, warn't to be disturbing them; and then I knows them boys is very mad with the Captain about that whiskey business up at Loch Sheen; and then Joe Reynolds and Jack Byrne are in it, and their brothers are two of them as war sazed and are now in Ballinamore Bridewell;--and I know there is something of the sort going on through the counthry; and faix, Father John, I wouldn't for money that anything happened, and I in it the while; for a poor boy is always made to be mixed up in them affairs, if by bad luck he is anywhere near at the time." "But what do you think they'd do to the Captain to-night, Denis?" "Faix then, yer riverence, I don't know what they'd be doing,--murther him, maybe." "God forbid! But, Denis, those men from Drumleesh could hardly know Captain Ussher was going to be at the wedding to-night." "Oh! yer riverence, they'd know it well enough from Pat Brady." "But you don't think your wife's brother would join a party to murder Ussher?" "Why then, Father John--I think it's just he that would be putting the others up to it." "Good gracious, Denis! and what would he get by such deeds as that? Isn't he comfortable enough."