"An' do you give that by way of an apologetical oration for your absence
from the advantages of my tuition until this hour? However, non constat
Patrici; I'll pluck the crow wid you on my return. If you don't find
yourself a well-flogged youth for your 'mitchin,' never say that this
right hand can administer condign punishment to that part of your
physical theory which constitutes the antithesis to your vacuum caput.
En et ewe, you villain," he added, pointing to the birch, "it's newly
cut and trimmed, and pregnant wid alacrity for the operation. I correct,
Patricius, on fundamental principles, which you'll soon feel to your
cost."

"Masther, sir," replied the lad, in a friendly, conciliating tone, "my
father 'ud be oblaged to you, if you'd take share of a fat goose wid him
to-morrow."

"Go to your sate, Paddy, avourneen; devil a dacent boy in the seminary I
joke--so much wid, as I do wid yourself; an' all out of respect for your
worthy parents. Faith, I've a great regard for them, all out, an' tell
them so."

He then proceeded to the carts, and approaching Jemmy, gave him such
advice touching his conduct in Munster, as he considered to be most
serviceable to an inexperienced lad of his years.

"Here," said the kind-hearted soul--"here, James, is my mite; it's but
bare ten shillings; but if I could make it a pound for you, it would
give me a degree of delectability which I have not enjoyed for a long
time. The truth is, there's something like the _nodus matrimonii_, or
what they facetiously term the priest's gallows, dangling over my head,
so that any little thrifle I may get must be kept together for that