Didn't I hate the ground you stud on when
I was married upon you? but I had the _airighid_. Ho, faix, I had the
shiners."
"Divil a word o' lie in that, Madjey, asthore. You had the money, an'
I got it, and wern't we as happy, or ten times happier, than if we had
married for love?"
"To be sartin we am; an' isn't we more unhappier now, nor if we had got
married for loaf, glory be to godness!"
"Father," said Margaret, anxious to put an end to this ludicrous debate,
"this is the only man I will ever marry."
"And by Him that made me," said her father, "you will never have my
consent to that marriage, nor my blessin'."
"Art," said she, "not one word. Here, in the presence of my father and
mother, and in the presence of God himself, I say I will be your wife,
and only yours."
"And," said her father, "see whether a blessin' will attend a marriage
where a child goes against the will of her parents."
"I'm of age now to think and act for myself, father; an' you know this
is the first thing I ever disobeyed you in, an' I hope it 'ill be the
last. Am I goin' to marry one that's discreditable to have connected
with our family? So far from that, it is the credit that is comin' to
us. Is a respectable young man, without spot or stain on his name, with
the good-will of all that know him, and a good trade--is such a person,
father, so very high above us? Is one who has the blood of the great
Fermanagh Maguires in his veins not good enough for your daughter,
because you happen to have a few bits of metal that he has not? Father,
you will give us your consent an' your blessin' too; but remember that
whether you do, or whether you don't, I'll not break my vow; I'll marry
him.
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