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Carleton, William, 1794-1869

"Phelim Otoole's Courtship and Other Stories Traits And Stories Of The Irish Peasantry, The Works of William Carleton, Volume Three"


"Phelim! Phelim carries it! Faix, an' I, doubt he finds it a light
burdyeen."
Phelim approached in all his glory.
"What am I to do?" he inquired, with a swagger.
"You're to cover that guinea-note wid a guinea, if you can," said
Donovan.
"Whether 'ud you prefar goold or notes," said Phelim, looking pompously
about him; "that's the talk."
This was received with another merry peal of laughter.
"Oh, goold--goold by all manes!" replied Donovan.
"Here goes the goold, my worthy," said Phelim, laying down his guinea
with a firm slap upon the table.
Old Donovan seized it, examined it, then sent it round, to satisfy
himself that it was a _bona fide_ guinea.
On finding that it was good, he became blank a little; his laugh lost
its strength, much of his jollity was instantly neutralized, and his
face got at least two inches longer. Larry now had the laugh against
him, and the company heartily joined in it.
"Come, Paddy," said Larry, "go an!--ha, ha, ha!"
Paddy fished for half a minute through the glove; and, after what was
apparently a hard chase, brought up another guinea, which he laid down.
"Come, Phelim!" said he, and his eye brightened again with a hope that
Phelim would fail.
"Good agin!" said Phelim, thundering down another, which was instantly
subjected to a similar scrutiny.
"You'll find it good," said Larry.


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