"
"Thrue enough, Phelim," said the father. "Paddy, here's towarst you
an' yours--nabors--all your healths--young couple! Paddy, give us your
hand, man alive! Sure, whether we agree or not, this won't put between
us."
"Throth, it won't, Larry--an' I'm thankful to you. Your health, Larry,
an' all your healths! Phelim an' Peggy, success to yez, whether or not!
An' now, in regard o' your civility, I will spake up. My proposal is
this:--I'll put down guinea for guinea wid you."
Now we must observe, by the way, that this was said under the firm
conviction that neither Phelim nor the father had a guinea in their
possession.
"I'll do that same, Paddy," said Larry; "but I'll lave it to the present
company, if you're not bound to put down the first guinea. Nabors, amn't
I right?"
"You are right, Larry," said Burn; "it's but fair that Paddy should put
down the first."
"Molly, achora," said Donovan to the wife, who, by the way, was engaged
in preparing the little feast usual on such occasions--"Molly, achora,
give me that ould glove you have in your pocket."
She immediately handed him an old shammy glove, tied up into a hard
knot, which he felt some difficulty in unloosing.
"Come, Larry," said he, laying down a guinea-note, "cover that like a
man."
"Phelim carries my purse," observed the father; but he had scarcely
spoken when the laughter of the company rang loudly through the
house--The triumph of Donovan appeared to be complete, for he thought
the father's alusion to Phelim tantamount to an evasion.
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