LIFE IN IRELAND 129 



beyond all comparisJwient. Teague Slaughter loved a 

 mouthful^ Peg Levelway loved a small toothful^ and 

 so did the priest ; a drop was melted down into the 

 leaden cup, and all round took a stifler. Had you 

 seen the bride-maids with their bastard childer on their 

 backs, you would have turned an honest man for joy, 

 and got married without a whew ! — Well, 'tis all over. 

 A consummation devoutly to be wished had taken 

 place — och ! the Devil knows when, for Peg was seven 

 months gone before she went to chapel ; — that was 

 nothing to nobody but God Almighty and themselves. 

 Out they came in prime order jostling La Louette's 

 riding school. (If you have not been there you should 

 make one ; Counsellor Philips goes there to make 

 speeches upon the animal creation ; Sally M'Lean 

 goes there ; so does all the three Mr. Wiggins, and 

 the Earl of Coat Laps.) Well, they doubled the 

 corner, bilked the market, shyed the college wall, and 

 steered down Moss-street. ' Here,' said Sir Shawn, 

 ' we '11 take our standing to see what passes ; Pat 

 Heney is a good-natured fellow as ever kept a porter 

 and punch- house, and from his parlour we can blink 

 upon the crowd and be unseen.' ' How do, Pat?' said 

 Sir Shawn, as they entered the gangway ; ' The better 

 for seeing your Honour well ; I see you 're rigged for 

 fun.' '■ Bedershin,' said the Baronet, and put \\\sflippe7' 

 to his nose, 'show us into your parlour.' 'The Devil 

 a foot till you've taken a drop for luck's sake,' 'It 

 must be so,' said the baronet, ' Pat will have his own 

 way, so Brian, handle the noggin, and do justice to 

 Pat Heney and his stories.' Brian quaffed, and so 

 did they all. The procession now advanced two and 

 I 



