"James M'Evoy, sir."

Just now the farmer's family began to assemble round the spacious
hearth; the young lads, whose instruction the worthy teacher claimed as
his own peculiar task, came timidly forward, together with two or three
pretty bashful girls with sweet flashing eyes, and countenances full of
feeling and intelligence. Behind on the settles, half-a-dozen servants
of both sexes sat in pairs--each boy placing himself beside his favorite
girl. These appeared to be as strongly interested in the learned
conversation which the master held, as if they were masters and
mistresses of Munster Latin and Doric Greek themselves; but an
occasional thump cautiously bestowed by no slender female hand upon the
sturdy shoulder of her companion, or a dry cough from one of the young
men, fabricated to drown the coming blow, gave slight indications that
they contrived to have a little amusement among themselves, altogether
independent of Mr. Corcoran's erudition.

When the latter came in, Jemmy was taking the tumbler of punch which the
farmer's wife had mixed for him; on this he fixed an expressive glance,
which instantly reverted to the _vanithee_, and from her to the large
bottle which stood in a window to the right of the fire. It is a quick
eye, however, that can anticipate Irish hospitality.

"Alley," said the farmer, ere the wife had time to comply with the hint
conveyed by the black, twinkling eye of the schoolmaster; "why, Alley"--

"Sure, I am," she replied, "an' will have it for you in less than no
time."