178 A CONVERSATION. 



" And yet/' said the host, " the priest, when he pleases, 

 can tie a killing one." 



" Why ye es, he does a leeile coarse but let me see 

 your casting-lines; I fear, my friend, that we had not the 

 right colours up." 



" / fear so too," said our host, with much expression. 



" By my conscience !" exclaimed the colonel, as he 

 scrutinized the casting-lines that were wound about my 

 kinsman's hat, " I would have taken my oath on a bag-full 

 of books, that this mallard's wing was tied by Father 

 Andrew." 



" And by my conscience," returned the host, "you would 

 not have been very far astray." 



" And was this fair, Julius to fish with any but your 

 own?" 



" Why, really, they looked so beautiful, that for the life 

 of me, I could not but put them up. But, my friend, the 

 next time you despatch a midnight messenger, select a 

 trustier one than Currakeen* and take a better opportunity 

 to praise young Alice's ' black eyes,' than when issuing your 

 secret instructions. Nay, I will respect those blushes. The 

 fact is, Currakeen was at your window before 'a mother' $ 

 soul was stirring' but, my dear Colonel, he did me the 

 favour to first call at mine. I merely took the liberty of 

 exchanging a few flies you fished with some old acquaint- 

 ances, while I tried experiments with Father Andrew's. 

 Come, the bets are off we both violated treaties, and thus, 

 I renounce my victory, though my opinion of Pull-garrow 

 is unalterable." 



" Julius," said the commander solemnly, " you'll be on 

 the highway next. Breaking a letter open, I think is an 

 excellent preparative for stopping his majesty's mail." 



" And in that case, I trust that you will be an accomplice. 

 If one must swing, good society is every thing. Your 

 demeanour at ' the fatal tree/ I am persuaded, would be 

 exemplary. And yet, my dear Frank, although I treated 

 Father Andrew's despatch with scanty ceremony, I never 

 came within the clutches of the law but once, and that Was, 

 as old Jack says, through villanous company." 



* A jye-name given to one of the endless tribe of Malley. 



