MRS. CORCORAN (who does not notice his attitude or expression) Amen!

DONAL (holds the paper with one hand, and brushes the hair from his forehead with the other) Is it the way that I’m dreamin’, or losin’ my senses?  Or is it the way I have no senses to lose?

MRS. CORCORAN (looking up from her knitting) Wisha, what’s the matter, at all?  Did any one die and leave you a fortune?

DONAL Who the devil would die and leave me anything? when I have no one belongin’ to me but poor relations.  Bad luck to them, and they only waitin’ for myself to die, so that they could have what I worked and slaved for all those long and weary years.  But ’tisn’t much there will be for any one after Kitty gets her dowry.  What’s left will be little enough for ourselves, I’m thinkin’.

MRS. CORCORAN
But what have you seen in the newspaper?

DONAL (reads) Baronetcy for the chairman of the Innismore Board of Guardians.  His Majesty the King has been pleased to confer a Royal favour on the worthy and exemplary Denis Delahunty, who in future will be known as Sir Denis Delahunty, Bart., in recognition of his services to the people of Innismore.  It was with a feelin’ of pride and admiration that—­

MRS. CORCORAN (as she drops the stocking on the floor, lifts the spectacles from her nose, and places them on her brow) The Lord protect and save us all!  Is it the truth, I wonder?

DONAL (handing paper)
See for yourself, woman.

MRS. CORCORAN (grabs the paper and scans it with interest) Sure enough, there it is, then, with five lines of large black letters and two columns of small letters besides, and his photograph as well. (To Kitty) Look Kitty, darlin’, look.  There ’tis all.  Sit down and read it aloud for us.  ’Twill sound better that way.

KITTY (takes the paper and smiles.  Falls on a chair nearly overcome with laughter.  The parents look on in amazement) Sir Denis Delahunty! (Laughs heartily)

DONAL
What are you laughin’ at?  You impudent hussy!

KITTY (still laughing)
Sir Denis Delahunty, Bart., my dear!

DONAL
Yes, yes, Sir Denis Delahunty.  And what about it?

KITTY
Dinny Delahunty, the old caubogue, a baronet, and
no less! (Laughs)

DONAL
I’ll have no more of this laughin’, I say.  What at all,
are you amused at, I’d like to know?

KITTY Oh, father, sure ’tis a blessing that some one has a sense of humour, like myself and the King.  And ’twas the great laugh he must have had to himself, when he made a baronet of Dinny Delahunty.  Not to mention all the other shoneens and huxters, from here to Bantry.

DONAL How dare you speak to me like that, miss, when ’tis yourself that will be Lady Delahunty one of these fine days.  Dinny, I mean, Sir Denis himself, is comin’ here to-night to make a match with his son, Finbarr.