"No I didn't, yer honer; that is, I did refuse to marry the girl; why wouldn't I? But I didn't break my promise, becase I only promised, purviding--; and you see, Father John, they was only decaving me." "Well, Denis; and who is it after all that you are going to have?" "Well, then, it's jist Mary Brady." "What! Pat Brady's sister is it?" "Iss, yer honer." "And is her cow really in the family way?" "Now yer riverence 'll make a handle of that agin me!" "Never mind, Denis, how I handle the cow, so long as you handle the calf; but has Mary a cow?" "No, Father John, she aint got a cow then, as I knows on." "Well, Denis, and what fortune are you to get? You are not the man would take a wife unless she brought something with her." "Well then, it's only jist a pair of young pigs and a small thrifle of change." "A trifle of change, eh! Then, Mr. McGovery, I take it, it wasn't only along of the mistake about a cow that you left poor Betsy Cane, but you found you could do better, I suppose." "Well then, it might be jist a little of both; but you see, Father John, they war the first to decave me." "Well, Denis, and when's the wedding to be?" "Oh--then, to-morrow evening, if yer riverence plazes." "What! so soon, Denis? Take care; perhaps after all Betsy Cane's cow may calve; see; would you be too much in a hurry after the pigs?" "Sorrow to the tongue of me then that I tould yer riverence a word about it!" "But what are you in such a hurry about? Won't the pigs do as well at Pat Brady's as they will down at Drumsna?" "Why you see, Father John, after to-morrow is Friday, which wouldn't do for the two legs of mutton Pat brought from Carrick with him yesterday, and the fine ham, yer riverence, Mrs. McKeon, long life to her, has sent us up from Drumsna; and Saturday wouldn't shute at all, seeing the boys will mostly be dhrunk, which may be yer honer wouldn't like on the morning of the blessed Sabbath." "Nor on any other morning. Can't they take their fun without getting drunk, like beasts? But drunk they'll be, of course. And why would not Monday do?" "Why that's next week, yer riverence!" "You've remained single all this time, and only jilted poor Betsy Cane last week; and are you so hot after Mary Brady that you can't wait till next Monday to be married? Or is it the pigs, Denis? Are you afraid Pat may change his mind about the pigs, as you did about the cow?" "Oh, drat the cow now, Father McGrath! and will ye never be aisy with yer joke agin a poor boy? It was not about the pigs then, nor nothing of the kind, but jist that I heard as how, but--" and Denis began scratching his head--"yer honer 'll be after twisting what I'll be tellin' yer, and poking your fun at me." "Not I, my boy; out with it. You know nothing goes farther with me."