The repetitions to the priest, however, I must take leave to doubt.
But after dinner, when the hot water and whisky were on the table, when the two old arm-chairs were drawn cozily up on the rug, each with an old footstool before it; when the faithful wife had mixed that glass of punch--or jug rather, for, after the old fashion, it was brewed in such a receptacle; and when, to inspire increased confidence, she had put into it a small extra modicum of the eloquent spirit, then the mouth of the rector was opened, and Mrs.Townsend was made happy.
"And so Father Barney and I have met at last," said he, rather cheerily, as the hot fumes of the toddy regaled his nostrils.
"And how did he behave now ?" "Well, he was decent enough--that is, as far as absolute behaviour went.

You can't have a silk purse from off a sow's ear, you know." "No, indeed; and goodness knows there's plenty of the sow's ear about him.

But now, Aeneas, dear, do tell me how it all was, just from the beginning." "He was there before me," said the husband.
"Catch a weasel asleep!" said the wife.
"I didn't catch him asleep at any rate," continued he.

"He was there before me; but when I went into the little room where they hold the meeting--" "It's at Berryhill, isn't it ?" "Yes, at the Widow Casey's.

To see that woman bowing and scraping and curtsying to Father Barney, and she his own mother's brother's daughter, was the best thing in the world." "That was just to do him honour before the quality, you know." "Exactly.