Biddy would have liked to have heard how the wedding party had met Pat Connex on the road, and what had happened after, but the priest was expecting her, and she did not dare to keep him waiting much longer. But she was not sorry she had been delayed, for the priest only wanted to get her money to mend the walls of the old church, and she thought that her best plan would be to keep him talking about Kate and Peter. He was going to America to-morrow or the day after, and if she could keep her money till then it would be safe. His front door was open, he was leaning over the green paling that divided his strip of garden from the road, and he looked very cross indeed. She began at once:-- "Sure, your reverence, there's terrible work going on in the village, and I had to stop to listen to Mrs M'Shane. Kate Kavanagh, that was, has gone to America, and she shut her door on him last night, saying he was drunk." "What's this you're telling me?" "If your reverence will listen to me--" "I'm always listening to you, Biddy M'Hale. Go on with your story." It was a long time before he fully understood what had happened, but at last all the facts seemed clear, and he said:-- "I'm expecting Pat Connex." Then his thoughts turned to the poor husband weeping in the backyard, and he said:-- "I made up this marriage so that she might not go away with Pat Connex." "Well, we've been saved that," said Biddy. "Ned Kavanagh's marriage was bad enough, but this is worse. It is no marriage at all." "Ah, your reverence, you musn't be taking it to heart. If the marriage did not turn out right it was the drink." "Ah, the drink--the drink," said the priest, and he declared that the brewer and the distiller were the ruin of Ireland. "That's true for you; at the same time we musn't forget that they have put up many a fine church." "It would be impossible, I suppose, to prohibit the brewing of ale and the distillation of spirit." The priest's brother was a publican and had promised a large subscription. "And now, Biddy, what are you going to give me to make the walls secure. I don't want you all to be killed while I am away." "There's no fear of that, your reverence; a church never fell down on anyone." "Even so, if it falls down when nobody's in it where are the people to hear Mass?" "Ah, won't they be going down to hear Mass at Father Stafford's?" "If you don't wish to give anything say so." "Your reverence, amn't I--?" "We don't want to hear about that window." Biddy began to fear she would have to give him a few pounds to quiet him. But, fortunately, Pat Connex came up the road, and she thought she might escape after all. "I hear, Pat Connex, you were dancing with Kate Kavanagh, I should say Kate M'Shane, and she went away to America this morning. Have you heard that?" "I have, your reverence. She passed me on the road this morning." "And you weren't thinking you might stop her?"