“Faith, spake for yourself, miss; as for me, I’m the very girl that has had my experience.  No less than three did I manfully refuse, in spite of both father and mother.  First there was big Bob Broghan, a giant of a fellow, with a head and pluck upon him that would fill a mess-pot.  He had a chape farm, and could afford to wallow like a swine in filth and laziness.  And well becomes the old couple, I must marry him, whether I would or not.  Be aisy, said I, it’s no go; when I marry a man, it’ll be one that’ll know the use of soap and wather, at all events.  Well, but I must; I did not know what was for my own good; he was rich, and I’d lead a fine life with him.  Scrape and clane him for somebody else, says I; no such walkin’ dungheap for me.  Then they came to the cudgel, and flaked me; but it was in a good cause, and I tould them that if I must die a marthyr to cleanliness, I must; and at last they dropped it, and so I got free of Bob Broghan.

“The next was a little fellow that kept a small shop of hucksthery, and some groceries, and the like o’ that.  He was a near, penurious devil, hard and scraggy lookin’, with hunger in his face and in his heart, too; ay, and besides, he had the name of not bein’ honest.  But then his shop was gettin’ bigger and bigger, and himself richer and richer every day.  Here’s your man, says the old couple.  Maybe not, says I. No shingawn that deals in light weights and short measures for me.  My husband must be an honest man, and not a keen shaving rogue like Barney Buckley.  Well, miss, out came the cudgel again, and out came I with the same answer.  Lay on, says I; if I must die a marthyr to honesty, why I must; and may God have mercy on me for the same, as he will.  Then they saw that I was a rock, and so there was an end of Barney Buckley, as well as Bob Broghan.

“Well and good; then came number three, a fine handsome young man, by name Con Coghlan.  At first I didn’t much like him, bekase he had the name of being too fond of money, and it was well known that he had disappointed three or four girls that couldn’t show guinea for guinea with him.  The sleeveen gained upon me, however, and I did get fond of him, and tould him to speak to my father, and so he did, and they met once or twice to make the match; but, ah, miss, every one has their troubles.  On the last meetin’, when he found that my fortune wasn’t what he expected, he shogged off wid himself; and, mother o’ mercy, did ever I think it would come to that?” Here she wiped her eyes, and then with fresh spirit proceeded, “He jilted me, Miss—­the desateful villain jilted me; but if he did, I had my revenge.  In less than a year he came sneakin’ back, and tould my father that as he couldn’t get me out of his head, he would take me with whatever portion they could give me.  The fellow was rich, Miss, and so the ould couple, ready to bounce at him, came out again.  Come, Alley, here’s Con Coghlan back.  Well, then, says I, he knows the road home again, and let him take it.  One good turn desarves another.  When he could get me he wouldn’t take me, and now when he would take me, he won’t get me; so I think we’re even.